In 2008, Craig Stokes saw the energy and dialogue surrounding the presidential race and wanted to become a part of it.

“I wanted to do something that fit my strengths in fashion and something I could do fairly easily,” he said.

It was then that he designed t-shirts and created the nonpartisan, My Vote Counts™, to inspire people to connect their vote to issues that matter to them.

“It’s important because when they see me, people assume I am going  to vote one way or the other,” he said.

“I had to take myself out of the equation as much as I could so I could still get the message out.”

Stokes graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 2004 with a degree in architectural engineering and aerospace science. He went on to earn his masters of business administration in 2006 and now earns a living as a captain in the U.S. Air force Reserve, as an independent brand consultant and traveling to high schools and universities speaking to students about branding and style.

With a background in business and engineering, fashion doesn’t seem like a natural next step but for Stokes, it was. He started his own clothing line, Cool Classics, while he was an undergraduate at N.C. A&T.

“You have to wear clothes every day and during my time at A&T, it was a fashion school. You wanted to look good,” he said.

“I always share with the students I speak to that you want to create the perceptions you want people to have of you. Clothes are one way to do that.”

Stokes is currently the Fashion Fix segment correspondent for Fox 8 Morning News. During the segment, he offers up tips on fashion for men like he did on his YouTube series, Style Minute. He is currently working with actress Tatyana M. Ali to co-produce a show, “The Craig Stokes Experience.” It is being pitched to television networks now.

Until then, Stokes is encouraging people to vote for their personal issues and not just the candidates. He says it is important that voters educate themselves.

“Creating My Vote Counts gave me a chance to study politics so that I could be knowledgeable when I speak to students on college campuses,” he said. “It’s about more about that than just the T-shirt.”

Just in time for Election Day, Stokes is offering a 30 percent discount on My Vote Counts t-shirts and donating a portion of the proceeds to the university. Visit the site, type in the code “NCAT” when prompted to receive the discount.