Styles of Imagination
Cleveland’s very own Fashion Designer, Diane Linston, steps out as one of the most talented fashion designers in the state of Ohio. In 2010, Diane was diagnosed with a horrible disorder called Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is universally acknowledged as one of the most painful afflictions known to adults, aka "the suicide disease." Affecting 1 out of 25,000 people a year, Diane never gave up faith. In 2011, she had brain surgery to correct damaged nerves, and within 4 months she was doing what she loved to do, “Designing Women's” clothing. Diane Linston opened her manufacturing & showroom on June 1, 2015, at 3500 Payne Ave, Cleveland, Ohio. She is the only African American female-owned manufacturing company in Cleveland Ohio. March 2, 2019, Styles of Imagination Boutique opened in the city of Beachwood. Styles of Imagination is the flagship brand for all of Diane’s collections, and the N.G.U. Design label is her signature line. N.G.U. stands for Never Give Up, and has been Diane’s rallying cry throughout her pursuit of becoming a high-fashion designer. “My dreams are more than just being a fashion designer,” states Diane, “It’s a dream come true for me. My career has not been easy; I have learned everything about fashion the hard way and I never gave up on my dreams, hence N.G.U. was born!” Linston has garnered many awards and honors in her time as an entrepreneur. She was honored by the City of Cleveland as a Female Business Enterprise, presented with the the award by Mayor Frank Jackson in May 2017. Also in 2017, she was also nominated for the Ohio Hip Hop Awards 2017. Diane became the wardrobe stylist for the movie ‘Single and Ready,’ and was the wardrobe stylist for an upcoming movie: ‘State of Mind,’ dressing celebrities such as Elise Neal of the Hugely, schedule for June 2020. Linston's credits allowed her to work with Actress Jazmin Lewis of Barber Shop, the mother of Singer John Legend. She participated in a Fashion Show for Mayor of Maple Heights, Annette M. Blackwell. Blackwell is the First African American Woman to be elected to serve as mayor. Linston created a fashion event that brought more than two hundred neighbors to this event. Diane Linston’s talents are not limited to fashion design. She became a contributing author of the released book for 2018, “Purpose Matters Anthology Project.” This book features fifteen contributing authors who talk about their purposes in life, to live your dreams and never give up. On February 23, 2019, the Mayor of the City of Beachwood, Ohio, Martin S. Horwitz, presented a proclamation to Diane Linston, naming it Styles of Imagination Boutique Day in the city. Diane Linston continues to create new fashionable visions in her current locations, while working on expansions into other markets in Detroit, Michagan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some Additional Awards and Accomplishments - • Featured in many magazines nationally and internationally • Participated in New York Fashion Week • Participated in 2018 Harlem Fashion Week, with the daughters of Malcolm X collection • Signature line, NGU Collections, garnered national attention and developed into work with local and national celebrities • Showcased fashions at the Cincinnati Jazz festival as opening act for rapper MC Lite and DJ Jazzy Jeff • Featured fashion designer at the Essence Festival July 6, 2019, New Orleans • Featured on New Day Cleveland on FOX 8 and Sunny Side up channel 19 news. • Featured in 2018, 13th anniversary edition of Who’s Who in Black Cleveland, Ohio • 2019, the14th edition of Who’s Who in Black Cleveland & Akron
