Fashion that Empowers
By: Renisha Battle
Shirt & Apparel Designer:
Hafiz Stokes
Social consciousness and responsibility have been embraced
in the twentieth century in various genres of society. The
powerful concepts have made its way from artistic expression, to corporate organizations, and saturated the fashion
industry. Fashion designers like Stella McCarthy, Gucci and
Marc Jacobs take their responsibility to reach the communities they serve and protect the views they believe in seriously.
In North Carolina’s own backyard, a movement is brewing
with an individual who is all about empowering the community and the nation through a fashion forward t-shirt and apparel line entitled IME (Individuals Motivating Excellence).
This movement was started by Charlotte’s own WPEG Power
98 FM radio personality, Hafiz Stokes aka Mr. IME, aka Mr.
Chocolate Boy Wonder, aka the Black Casanova. The sky
is not the limit for this distinguished member of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity Inc., who proved that creating an IME t-shirt
line and balancing his busy life is possible. As radio personality, actor, model, and co-host
of “A Better You” on access
channel 21, Hafiz remains
humble through everything he
achieves.
in the radio industry. Among being a radio personality I am
a model, actor, a TV host, and work for the American Red
Cross.
S.E.: Tell us some shows or commercials we might have seen
you on or in?
Hafiz: Since the age of 12, modeling and acting has been my
outlet. I started modeling on the campus of North Carolina
Central University through organization called Evalesco
Models and I was used in print ads for NCCU. I modeled in
the Women’s Empowerment, Charlotte and Atlanta Fashion
week. I was a stand in for Tyler Perry Studios and PBS. I had
a guest role on Southern Fried Steam on True TV.
I am in commercials for Toyota, WAXN TV 64, WMY TV
12, & BET Black College Weekend.
Independent Film: Queen City the movie.
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