Go Get It

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.

Diane became the wardrobe stylist for the movie ‘Single and Ready,’ and was the wardrobe stylist for the movie: ‘State of Mind,’ dressing celebrities such as Elise Neal of The Hughleys, released June 2020.

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.

February 19, 2022, Diane Linston, created a fashion show during the NBA All- Star weekend in Cleveland Ohio

The actress Eva Marcelle from American Next Top Model hosted the show. There were more than 16 fashion designers from all over the world. Nigeria Africa & Puerto Rico. Most of the fashion designers were from Cleveland Ohio, along with Diane’s collection herself.

Linston, has a talk show called “Cleveland Fashions & Styles” The show airs on WKYC channel 3, every Saturday morning also on Roku, Facebook and Youtube.

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 • Blacknew.com 2021 • Breaking News 2022 • Sister2Sister magazine 2021 • AMPS Cleveland Magazine 2022 • Luxe Magazine 2022 • Slink Magazine 2022 • The Nikki Rich show 2022Page 10

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port parents and when a child gets suspended from school they will come for positive B.E.S.T practices. COVID-19 has exacerbated our kids B.E.S.T. This pandemic has forever changed the way we operate daily. It’s going to be a time when kids are going to need a mental health day off. ROK services are needed like ever before and If Not Now then When? If not us then Who?

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Q: Tell us about the Metropolitan Cleveland Alliance of Black School Educators. A: In addition to being the executive director and founder of ROK, I am the president of Metropolitan Cleveland Alliance of Black School Educators (Metro CABSE). I became the president prior to the pandemic in August 2019. This is the local affiliate of the state and national alliance. There are over a thousand local affiliates in the US and Canada. Metro CABSE just had its 40th year celebration in December of 2021. Our main initiatives are education policy and legislation, parent commission, and Black Men Teach in CLE (BMT in CLE) campaign. It’s a great feeling to live IN purpose. I hear people talk about our education system and the inequalities for kids of color, particularly those of African descent. Metro CABSE is talking, walking, and doing the work. We are currently fighting to oppose a proposed policy that would prohibit educators for teaching or discussing truths about American history- slavery, segregation, social justices. Our parent commission works on how to distribute this information to families and support parents through this pandemic and beyond. Our BMT in CLE campaign is supporting districts to recruit, engage, and sustain more Black male teachers. We work with districts who only have one to no Black male teachers in their high schools or elementary schools. Metro CABSE is trying to change this narrative.

You were made to live a good life And that’s what I believe So hit the floor say a prayer start working You gotta do something It’s alright to crawl before you walk It’s alright to walk before you run But if you wanna get what you never got Gotta do something that you never done

Q: What sounding words/advice would you like to end with? A: “To much is given much will be required” Luke 12:48 When you live IN purpose you have to remember that scripture. In addition to all of my other obligations, I am the president of my HBCU alumni chapter, Alabama State University (ASU). The picture of my son and I also reminds me of one of the proudest moments of my life, graduating from ASU with honors (Magna Cum Laude). ASU gave me a single-parent on welfare, an opportunity and a chance in life. I was a full-time student on an academic scholarship, at times working full-time, along with my full-time responsibility- being a parent of a toddler. How did I do it? It’s the God in me. How did I make it? I just kept on crawling.

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