Overview:
Haitian fashion designer and artist Murielle Leconte, known as “Minouche,” has died at 66, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of hand-painted clothing, a mentor to young creatives, and a leading figure in women’s entrepreneurship in Haiti.
NEW YORK— Murielle Leconte, the Haitian designer and cultural entrepreneur, died on Dec. 28 in Florida after a long battle with cancer. She was 66.
Leconte, a pioneer of hand-painted clothing in Haiti and a leading figure in women-led entrepreneurship, built a career that bridged art, education, and public service. In 2009, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of bone cancer and relocated to Florida.
Leconte was trained as a civil engineer but followed multiple callings throughout her life. She built a career that bridged engineering, fashion, visual art and mentorship. She was widely recognized as a pioneer of artistic painting on garments, transforming everyday clothing into cultural expression while opening doors for generations of young creatives.
Leconte founded Murielle Créations on Dec. 8, 1990 — on her birthday — specializing in hand-painted apparel, decorative objects and fashion accessories. Her work blended textiles, glass, ceramics, handbags and haute couture, all crafted by hand. Over the years, her creations earned many international awards, including in the United States, with additional honors in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
Beyond her artistic output, Leconte was deeply invested in youth development. She launched a modeling agency focused not only on fashion, but on personal and professional formation, teaching discipline, confidence, respect and self-presentation. She also played a key role in advancing women’s entrepreneurship in Haiti, notably through her involvement in ‘Femmes en Production,’ a landmark fair that spotlighted the creativity and economic contributions of Haitian women, providing them with visibility in a male-dominated business environment.
Leconte relocated to Miami to receive treatment but continued to create, even while in rehabilitation centers, demonstrating a resilience that became central to how many remembered her. In 2014, she embraced a renewed spiritual path and was baptized at the Tabernacle de Gloire, local media reported.
Leconte was the daughter of engineer Richard Leconte, founder of Haiti’s first private engineering school, and a mother from Léogâne who worked as an accounting secretary at the Bank of the Republic of Haiti.
Following news of her passing, tributes poured in across social media, with fans, former students, and fellow artists sharing memories of Leconte’s generosity, discipline, and creative vision. Many described her as a mentor who opened doors, encouraged young talent, and proved that Haitian art and fashion could thrive on the global stage.
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