Exhibit 99.1



     Written Statement of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
                                  Section 1350

Solely  for the  purposes  of  complying  with 18 U.S.C.  Section  1350,  I, the
undersigned  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of Stein Mart,  Inc.  (the
"Company"), hereby certify that:

1.      the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of  the  Company  for the 52 weeks ended
        February 1, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with  the requirements of
        Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.      the  information  contained  in  the  Report  fairly  presents,  in  all
        material respects, the financial condition  and results of operations of
        the Company.



Date:   May 1, 2003                    /s/ Michael D. Fisher
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Michael D. Fisher

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