Lesley Ware is a successful author, art instructor, and fashion designer with multiple store locations in New York City. She has penned several books on sewing, fashion, and style for youth, including Sew Fab: Sewing and Style for Young Fashionistas, Style File, How to Be a Fashion Designer, 101 Ways to Love Your Style, and Black Girls Sew. She has also taught fashion at institutions such as KIPP, New Visions for Public Schools, Parsons School of Design, and many others, and has worked with esteemed museums including the Museum of the City of New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Lesley was born in Muskegon, Michigan in 1977. From a young age, she exhibited a passion for sewing and style, learning the craft at just four years old. She graduated from Muskegon Senior High School in 1996 and went on to attend Western Michigan University on a full scholarship, where she studied Elementary Education. Lesley’s academic journey continued when she secured a fellowship to pursue a Master of Public Administration, graduating in 2003.

During her college years, Lesley pledged Delta Sigma Theta and was actively involved in American Humanics. Her professional career began with an internship at the National Science Foundation in 2002, which sparked her interest in foundations. She subsequently worked at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Forbes Funds, served on the board of the Women’s and Girls Foundation of SW PA, and contributed her talents to the Girl Scouts’ national office in Manhattan. In 2008, Lesley started a blog called “The Creative Cookie”, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at NYC’s fashion industry, marking her official leap into fashion.

Her collaborations with prominent brands like Creative Bug (JoAnn Fabrics), Nuuly (Urban Outfitters), and Martha Stewart have further solidified her reputation in the fashion industry. In 2021, Lesley launched a DIY web series with Creative Bug, Nuuly, and Fab Scrap. Currently, Lesley is the founder and owner of Art to Ware, a unique fashion startup in New York City that specializes in one-of-a-kind upcycled fashion pieces. Art to Ware operates locations in the Oculus and Port Authority Bus Terminal, offering a curated selection of wearable art.