Local designer seeks national reach

Diane Linston, 48 is a local fashion designer and manufacturer who is poised to bring the Cleveland brand to a national spotlight.

The name of her company is NGU Designs. NGU stands for Never Give Up which is a saying rooted in her work ethic.

He designs can be purchased from her website www.stylesofimagination.com and she’s located at 3500 Payne Avenue, but you can find her designs at local boutiques such Fashion by Fowler in Shaker Hts., Our favorite Things boutique in The galleria and Q’s Boutique in Oakwood.

“I am the only African American female who has a women’s manufacturing company in the city of Cleveland, Ohio,” said Linston.

“We manufacture women’s clothing that I design,” said Linston.

“The clothing is designed, manufactured and sold all over the United States.”

NGU Designs can even be found on Amazon.

Linston has been in business since 1999 but she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer at age 14.

“I learned how to sew in home economics class during Junior High and kept working toward that dream ever since,” said Linston.

“I have three degrees, a degree in fashion design, a degree in fashion merchandising, and a Bachelors degree in marketing.”

According to Linston, she is working with Wyllilsa Bennett publishing and she says she’s also the PR person for reality television star NeNe Leakes.

“I made that connection to not just be a local designer but to be a national designer and I hope by the end of this year I will have my designs in a major department store,” said Linston.

“I’m also working with Cleveland Hopkins Airport to have a small boutique located there.”

Linston truly believes in the Never Give Up logic.

“I’m just pursuing my dreams,” said Linston.”

“Being the only African American female clothing manufacturer in Cleveland is huge. We cut it, sew it together and ship it out.”

Linston also has a business partner, Luchis Royster who makes hand bags and Linston says they are working together to bring fashion to Cleveland which she says is a hard thing to do, but she really doesn’t know why.

“I travel a lot and have done trade shows all across the US,” said Linston.

“I even participated in New York Fashion Week, D.C. Fashion Week, big shows in Chicago and people really know who I am. So this is my hometown in Cleveland and I’m going to keep pushing and trying and I do believe I can put Cleveland on the map.”

She went on to say you don’t have to be in New York although New York is the fashion capital of the world, but just to make it happen right here in Cleveland Ohio is great.

Linston feels that no matter how old you are or where you’re at in life, you can make your dreams come true.

“I will never give up,” said Linston.

“I totally believe in staying positive and being around the right people because it can make a world of difference.”

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Local fashion designer Diane Linston