Shakiel Francis is not the average 19-year-old young man who lives in New York City. He is the founder and CEO of Common Connect Brand clothing. In a recent interview with YDBR, Francis talks about being a military child before calling Harlem home, his clothing line and inspirations. He has vivid memories of commuting to midtown Manhattan to attend The High School of Arts and Technology which he graduated from last month. This fall Francis has plans to attend college and major in fashion or business.
As a youth, he spent most of his time moving around the states and the Caribbean’s. In 1993, he was born in the Bronx, moved to Antigua (an Island in the West Indies) in 1998 and moved back to the states in New Jersey at the age of 9. “My mother suggested that I move back to the states because she wanted me to have a better lifestyle. She stayed in Antigua with my other siblings while I went to live with family members.” At the age of 12, Francis relocated to Atlanta before moving back to NYC at the age of 16, where calls Harlem home. He has been in the fashion industry since 2009 and officially launched Common Connect Brand clothing last April. The brand consists of tee-shirts, caps and bracelets. Rapper Theophilus London recently rocked a shirt from Common Connect Brand during his tour in Belgium.
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