Fayetteville native who struggled to read builds multimillion-dollar clothing brand now reaching military families worldwide

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — A Fayetteville man who once struggled to read is now sharing a message of perseverance with people around the world.

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Kelsey Battle says he graduated from Seventy-First High School reading at about a second-grade level. He says he couldn’t read, write, or spell at the level expected of him — and those struggles kept him from pursuing college. But Battle refused to let that define his future.

Today, the Army veteran is the founder of ICAN Clothes Co., an inspirational clothing brand that has grown from a simple idea into a multimillion-dollar business. The brand is now expanding into Navy Exchange stores across the United States and internationally.

Beginning this month, ICAN apparel is being sold in 23 Navy Exchange locations around the world, including stores in Italy, Guam, Spain, and Japan.

For Battle, the expansion is about much more than selling clothes. It’s about showing people that their beginning does not have to determine their ending.

A difficult childhood became motivation

Battle says his childhood was filled with challenges.

He grew up in a home impacted by his mother’s drug addiction. He says there were times when his family struggled with basic necessities, including food, electricity and running water.

The hardships followed him into school, where he says he was often bullied because of his struggles.

But Battle says those experiences became motivation.

“I knew I didn’t want to be there,” Battle said. “So it propelled me.”

Unable to get into college, Battle decided to join the Army.

He served during the Gulf War and was stationed at Fort Bragg, Germany and Korea. While in Germany, Battle says he faced a moment that could have stopped him.

He was preparing paperwork for deployment but struggled to complete it because he couldn’t read well. That’s when he says a first sergeant stepped in.

“I asked the first sergeant, ‘Why did you help me?’ He said, ‘I seen something in you.’”

Battle says that mentorship changed his life. The soldier taught him how to read — giving him a skill that would later help him build a business.

A dream started at Fort Bragg

Battle says the idea for ICAN started in 1999 while he was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Before leaving the Army, he worked three jobs, including a position at Finish Line and bagging groceries on post, to save money and prepare for his future.

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His first goal was simple: create clothing that encouraged children, especially at-risk youth.

“I knew I was going to get out the Army,” Battle said. “My wife asked me, ‘Did you reenlist today?’ I said no. She said, ‘Why not?’ I said, ‘God told me to start a T-shirt company.’”

Battle says his wife, Shannon, supported the vision even when the future was uncertain. Together, the couple built multiple successful businesses, including residential and mental health treatment facilities, a construction company and a foster care agency.

From T-shirts to a global brand

Over the years, ICAN Clothes has grown into a lifestyle brand built around confidence, resilience and purpose.

Battle says the name ICAN comes from the phrase “I Can Achieve Now.” The message is simple: believe you can overcome obstacles. The brand gained national attention after being featured during New York Fashion Week in 2025.

Today, ICAN has expanded beyond clothing. The brand includes children’s books, lunchboxes, popcorn, and other products designed to spread the same message.

Battle says he wants children to see ICAN the same way they see other recognizable brands — as a daily reminder that they can achieve their goals.

“If kids knew ICAN like Nike or something positive that you can see every day and feel,” Battle said. “God put it on my heart to do apparel.”

Giving back to Fayetteville

Battle says success is not just measured by business growth. Since 2020, he and his wife have helped transform several dilapidated homes in Fayetteville into transitional housing for people dealing with substance abuse and other challenges. He says helping others overcome obstacles is at the heart of everything he does.

A message bigger than clothing

As ICAN continues expanding into military exchanges worldwide — with plans to grow into Army installations and Walmart stores — Battle says the mission remains the same. He wants people to know where they start does not limit where they can go.

“My start is not my finish,” Battle said. “There is no limits to what I can do. Nothing can stop me.”

You can shop ICAN clothing and learn more about Battle’s story at the brand’s official website:

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