meet the designers
Anna Bakst & Michele Rutigliano
Anna Bakst and Michele Rutigliano founded WE-AR4 in 2021 after decades of experience in the fashion industry. Their shared vision: to redesign the fashion system from the inside out. With creative and executive backgrounds at luxury labels, they came together to build a brand that aligns high design with high responsibility—proof that climate-conscious fashion can be both intentional and irresistible.
the brand
WE-AR4
WE-AR4 is a New York-based responsible fashion brand with a global mindset. Rooted in the belief that planet responsibility is a necessity—not a luxury—the brand reimagines how fashion is made by starting with what already exists. Using premium deadstock and surplus materials from some of Europe’s finest mills and world-class factories, WE-AR4 designs elevated, limited-quantity pieces that turn waste into wardrobe.
By upcycling materials that would otherwise go unused, WE-AR4 delivers both immediate climate impact and timeless style. The result is a collection of essentials made for longevity—where durability, craftsmanship, and responsible sourcing come together in bold, beautiful harmony. Designed in NYC for a new generation of thoughtful dressers.
Collection
WE-AR4
Sarah Says...
"It is such a thrill to meet true Fashion Industry Veterans, who, after decades of real experience with big brands, launch their own cool collection. And the collection is just perfect. That was my 1st impression of Michelle and Anna’s WE-AR4 when I spent time with them at their Crosby Street Atelier. “These women know what they are doing and every style is cut is so sharp!” Personally I am drawn to their “borrowed from the boys” aesthetic which is always so fun to style and wear."
