Rising Stars: Meet Dr Diane Linston of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Diane Linston.

Hi Dr Diane, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Diane Linston, a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and community advocate from Cleveland. My journey began with a passion for fashion and sewing at a young age, which grew into a lifelong commitment to design, craftsmanship, and empowering others through creativity. Over the years, I built my skills in garment construction, custom design, and fashion production while developing a deeper understanding of how fashion can serve both personal expression and practical needs.

That passion led me to create Cleveland Cut and Sew, a business focused on custom apparel, manufacturing, and sewing education. I saw a gap in the community after the loss of local fabric resources and recognized the need for a space where people could access materials, learn sewing, and develop trade skills.

Today, my work extends beyond fashion design into community impact—teaching sewing to youth, aspiring designers, and underserved populations, while creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and workforce development. My goal is to help restore home economics and sewing education, preserve craftsmanship, and build a stronger creative economy in Cleveland.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Like many small businesses, one of my biggest challenges is the hospital gowns I created. I have tried to meet with the supplier chain department to introduce them to the hospital. Never a call back . I learned there that you have to have your products in a distribution center. The distribution center cleans the hospital’s gowns.
I received a call back from a distribution center. They invited me to one of their distribution centers to show me how the process works. After a tour, I understand why my hospital gowns would not work in major hospital. My gowns would be a better fit in a private office. I have an few clients.

Another major challenge has been educating the community on the value of sewing, manufacturing, and textile education at a time when these skills have largely disappeared from schools. Rebuilding interest in sewing and showing people that it can create careers, not just hobbies, has taken time.

Finding and retaining skilled workers, creating consistent customer traffic, and navigating the changing retail landscape after the closure of major fabric stores also presented obstacles. However, each challenge has strengthened my business, sharpened my vision, and deepened my commitment to creating opportunities through fashion, education, and community empowerment.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a fashion designer, I specialize in creating purposeful fashion that blends style, function, and empowerment. Through Cleveland Cut and Sew, I design custom garments, teach sewing education, and provide manufacturing solutions that help bring ideas to life from concept to creation. My work ranges from high-fashion pieces and special event wear to innovative products like chemo blouses, surgical head wraps, and motivational hospital gowns designed to support women during difficult seasons of life.

What I’m most proud of is using fashion as a tool for impact. Beyond designing, I’ve created opportunities to teach sewing as a trade, especially for youth and underserved communities, while working to bring home economics and sewing education back into schools. I’m passionate about preserving the art of sewing and creating pathways for others to build skills, confidence, and careers.

What sets me apart is my ability to help others I have work with various organizations using my platform to help raise money and bring awareness about their organization. One of my favorite organizations is Teens with purpose. Valarie Walker, who is the founder. Her mission is to help young female teenagers from the age of 14-17, bringing them back to the basics. Teach them what it takes to be young ladies. And to conduct themself as a young lady.

I don’t just design clothing—I create solutions, build platforms for others, and use fashion to inspire healing, confidence, and economic growth. My work is rooted in legacy, innovation, and service, making every stitch meaningful.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The name of my clothing line is called the N.G.U. Collection: Never Give Up

The quality I believe is most important to my success is never give up. I’ve learned that building a business, especially in fashion and manufacturing, comes with challenges, setbacks, and uncertainty. My mindset has always been to never give up. No matter the obstacles, I stay committed, keep learning, and keep pushing forward. That determination has been the foundation of my growth and the driving force behind everything I’ve built with Cleveland Cut and Sew

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clevelandcutandsew.com and thengucollection.com
• Instagram: styles_of_Imagination
• Facebook: Diane Linston
• LinkedIn: Cleveland Fashion Lounge in the CLE, Coming in July