Art to Ware
Art to Ware is a New York City wearable art gallery and DTC retail concept founded in 2021 by Lesley Ware. It curates and sells clothing, accessories, books, and one-of-one art from emerging independent designers across three NYC storefronts and a global e-commerce site.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Art to Ware does
Art to Ware is a privately-held, founder-led wearable art gallery and direct-to-consumer retail concept established in 2021 by Lesley Ware in New York City. The company curates and sells clothing, accessories, books, and one-of-one art pieces from emerging and independent designers — including named collections such as Epperson, Googly Eye Cru, Ooh Baby, Caia Diepenbrock, Parron Allen, ULKA, and the NONECK apr\u00e8s Johnny Boy collaboration — alongside the founder's own published fashion books and an affirmation card deck. The physical footprint comprises three NYC retail locations: Fulton Center (200 Broadway, Lower Manhattan), Port Authority Bus Terminal (625 8th Avenue), and Westfield World Trade Center (185 Greenwich Street, Oculus), with the Fulton Center and Westfield locations added in 2024-2025.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: the company runs on Squarespace for its global e-commerce storefront and Square for in-store POS and inventory management. There is no proprietary platform, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and no app. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales across accessories ($10-$36), clothing ($40-$250), books ($16-$25), and original artwork ($700+), supplemented by a recurring monthly donation program with four tiers (Pink Star Supporter $10+ through Fashion Champion $50+). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across physical retail, e-commerce, pop-ups, trunk shows, and event-based sales, with marketing driven by content (designer-profile blog), email newsletter, organic social, and earned press in outlets such as WWD, Essence, and Bust. The customer base is entirely individual consumers segmented into fashion-conscious sustainable-fashion buyers, gift purchasers, and art/fashion enthusiasts attending programming. The company is currently hiring its first formal General Manager (part-time, 15-30 hrs/week), indicating it is transitioning from pure founder-led operations toward a small team structure.
Art to Ware firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Art to Ware
- Legal name
- Art to Ware Fashion, LLC
- Website
- https://arttoware.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Art to Ware is a New York City wearable art gallery and DTC retail concept founded in 2021 by Lesley Ware. It curates and sells clothing, accessories, books, and one-of-one art from emerging independent designers across three NYC storefronts and a global e-commerce site.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Art to Ware industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wearable Art Retail
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (459920), Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers (4583)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fine Art Materials Retail (Paint, Canvas, Drawing) (CRALACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Decorative Accessories Retail (Vases, Bowls, Sculptures, Figurines, Trays) (CRAIACAB)
Keywords
Where Art to Ware is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Art to Ware business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Wearable Art & Clothing: One-time product sales of wearable art including clothing, accessories, jewelry, bags, books, and art pieces. Products range from affordable accessories ($10-$36) to higher-end items like blazers ($180-$250). The company sells both curated third-party designer pieces and their own Art to Ware branded merchandise.
- Donations & Community Support: The company accepts community donations through their Support Art to Ware program, with supporter tiers from $10 (Pink Star Supporter) to $50+ (Fashion Champion). These donations support programming, exhibitions, events, and artist opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories - $10-$36 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clothing - $40-$250 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Books - $16-$25 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Art Pieces - $700+ |
| Subscription | Monthly | Community Support - $10-$50+ |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Art to Ware product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Art to Ware is a wearable art gallery and retail store that curates and sells clothing, accessories, art, and books from emerging and independent designers, with a strong emphasis on one-of-one pieces, sustainable and upcycled fashion, and artist-made objects. The company operates multiple physical retail locations in New York City and an online store, supplemented by events, trunk shows, and workshops that connect customers directly with the designers featured in the shop.
Product overview
Art to Ware is a wearable art gallery and retail store offering a curated mix of clothing, accessories, books, art, and one-of-one pieces. The company operates both physical stores in Lower Manhattan (Fulton Center) and Port Authority/Oculus locations, plus an online e-commerce platform. Their product portfolio includes core categories of Clothing, Accessories, Books & Stationery, and Art, along with sub-brands and designer collections featuring emerging artists and sustainable fashion designers. They also offer Classes & Workshops and publish books by founder Lesley Ware. The business champions independent designers, sustainable fashion, and creative community through consignor relationships and collaborative partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Featured in major fashion and lifestyle publications including WWD, Essence, Bust, and Shoutout LA
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Art to Ware
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Art to Ware technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Art to Ware partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- NYC Resource CollectiveminorPartnered for Women's History Month clothing swap event in March 2025. NYC Resource Collective hosted the swap while Art to Ware provided the venue and upcycling stations.
- ChaShaMacoreChaShaMa (Chashama) is a nonprofit that supports small businesses through storefront startup programs. Art to Ware participated in this program to launch their business, gaining access to affordable retail space in New York City. The partnership has been instrumental in Art to Ware's growth, with Anika Ignozzi of Ooh Baby also benefiting from ChaShaMa support to open her shop.
- FabscrapminorArt to Ware designer Aly Reinert sources materials from Fabscrap, a textile recycling organization. This is an indirect partnership through their designer community, supporting sustainable material sourcing.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Art to Ware competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wolf & Badger: Wolf & Badger operates curated multi-brand boutiques and an online marketplace for independent designers in fashion, jewelry, and accessories. Directly comparable as a curated indie-designer retail concept with a sustainability and emerging-designer focus.
- The Folklore: The Folklore is a multi-brand retailer and wholesale platform for emerging African and diasporic designers in fashion and accessories. Comparable as a curated indie-designer retail platform serving fashion-conscious, mission-driven consumers.
- Garmentory: Garmentory is an online marketplace aggregating independent boutiques and emerging designer fashion. Closely comparable as a curated indie-designer platform serving fashion-forward consumers.
- Article22: Article22 is a Brooklyn/Washington DC-based brand and retailer of "wearable art" jewelry and accessories made from upcycled materials. Highly comparable as a wearable art gallery concept with sustainability focus and curated one-of-one pieces.
- Showfields: Showfields is a New York-based "retail experience" concept store featuring rotating independent brands in fashion, beauty, and home. Closely aligned with Art to Ware's physical-store-meets-art-gallery positioning and emerging-designer curation.
- Modavanti: Modavanti is an online retailer specializing in sustainable, fair-trade fashion from independent designers. Comparable as a multi-brand curated boutique for ethically-made clothing and accessories.
Emerging players
- Beyond Retro: Beyond Retro is a vintage and upcycled fashion retailer with strong sustainability positioning. Comparable as a sustainable-curated fashion retailer operating physical storefronts and online.
- Bulletin: Bulletin is a New York-born wholesale platform connecting independent female-founded brands with retailers. Comparable as part of the same indie-designer curation ecosystem that supplies boutiques like Art to Ware.
Others
- adidas SLVR / Adidas Originals Community Spaces: Adidas operates curated community retail concepts (e.g., SLVR / community flagship stores) that combine sportswear with local art and cultural programming. Relevant as a peer on the "retail-as-cultural-experience" model Art to Ware embodies.
Broad incumbents
- Urban Outfitters Free People / FP Movement: Urban Outfitters operates a broad specialty apparel and lifestyle retail portfolio with rotating emerging-designer assortments and curated stores. Relevant as a broad incumbent carving into the curated indie/sustainable fashion space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Art to Ware social profiles
Digital presenceArt to Ware financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Art to Ware leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Art to Ware funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Art to Ware M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Art to Ware
What does Art to Ware do?
Art to Ware is a wearable art gallery and retail store that curates and sells clothing, accessories, art, and books from emerging and independent designers, with a strong emphasis on one-of-one pieces, sustainable and upcycled fashion, and artist-made objects. The company operates multiple physical retail locations in New York City and an online store, supplemented by events, trunk shows, and workshops that connect customers directly with the designers featured in the shop.
Is Art to Ware a public or private company?
Art to Ware is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Art to Ware founded?
Art to Ware was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Art to Ware based?
Art to Ware is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Art to Ware make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Wearable Art & Clothing is the primary driver. The others are donations & Community Support.
Who are Art to Ware's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wolf & Badger, The Folklore, Garmentory, Article22, Showfields and Modavanti. Emerging players are Beyond Retro and Bulletin. adidas SLVR / Adidas Originals Community Spaces is listed as an others. Urban Outfitters Free People / FP Movement is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Art to Ware have an API?
No public API is recorded for Art to Ware.
What industry is Art to Ware in?
Art to Ware's product category is Wearable Art Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALACAB, Fine Art Materials Retail (Paint, Canvas, Drawing), with a secondary code of CRAIACAB, Decorative Accessories Retail (Vases, Bowls, Sculptures, Figurines, Trays). Its NAICS code is 459920 and its SIC code is 5600.