From Dance to Design, from Canvas to Courage—A Spotlight on the Living Icon of Haitian Fashion
By HMI Magazine – Spotlight Section
She is known as Murielle Créations, a name that echoes far beyond the catwalks and boutiques of Port-au-Prince. A civil engineer by training, a dancer by instinct, an artist by blood, and a fashion designer by calling, Murielle Leconte is one of Haiti’s most extraordinary creative figures. With decades of service to culture, style, and national pride, she has become a living legend. In a Le Nouvelliste article, she was called “la dame de fer of Haitian fashion.”
At 65, battling cancer with quiet resilience, Murielle remains unshaken in spirit and uncompromised in creativity. She continues to design, dream, and define what it means to be Haitian, one handcrafted piece at a time.
The Nation’s Wardrobe in One Woman’s Hands
Musicians, actors, comedians, models, TV hosts, radio stars, Carnival royalty, and even government officials, Murielle has dressed them all. She is the go-to name behind iconic looks worn by artists like BélO, BIC, Jean Jean Roosevelt, Annie Alerte, Nice Simon, and Tropicana D’Haiti, as well as institutions such as TNH, Radio Caraïbes, Télémax, and beauty queens from the “Miss Video Max” era. Murielle has also dressed many government officials, such as Women’s Minister Marie Laurence Jocelyn Lassègue, the former first lady Martine Moise, and many others. More than a stylist, she’s a cultural architect, building identity through fabric, form, and flair.
She inspired Haitian artists to embrace local colors, textures, and traditions in their wardrobes. Her legacy lies in stitched seams and stitched pride, one outfit at a time.
Artistry Without Borders, Recognition Without Limit
Murielle’s career took off without significant National institutional support, aside from the acknowledgment by Marie Laurence Jocelyn Lassègue, former Minister for the Status of Women, who formally honored her for her contributions. Murielle’s brand, born on December 8, 1990, began with hand-painted textiles and evolved into a full design empire spanning glassware, ceramics, handbags, and couture clothing. She has received nearly 50 international awards, including 12 in the U.S., and accolades from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
And yet, the Ministry of Culture in Haiti has never officially honored her, a striking oversight for someone who has carried the national brand globally for over 30 years, Murielle Leconte, to the HMI Magazine.
From Engineering to Elegance
Born to Richard Leconte, a pioneering engineer, and Gisele Lissade, a beauty queen from Leogane, Murielle was raised in a household of intellect and innovation. Her parents founded Haiti’s first engineering school in 1962. Though Murielle earned her degree in civil engineering, it was her divine calling to create. She followed a vision that came in a dream, which eventually led her to fashion techniques she later confirmed existed during a trip to Miami. And thus began her providential journey in style.
As she once said, “Tout talent est providentiel” every talent is heaven-sent.
The Battle Within
Diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of bone cancer, Murielle has been fighting for her life for nearly a decade. But true to form, she continues creating, even from a rehabilitation center in Miami. Weekly chemotherapy sessions are brutal, yet her spirit remains undefeated. “It’s painful,” she admits, “but it’s the price to pay to keep going.”
In her own words, she never chose to leave Haiti; illness forced her hand. And yet, even abroad, she continues to represent her homeland with dignity and beauty.
Rebirth and Faith
Many years ago, on the eve of Easter Sunday, Murielle made another transformative decision: She was baptized after years of studying the Bible. She now attends the Tabernacle of Glory in Miami, led by Pastor Gregory Toussaint, and finds spiritual strength amid physical trials. She takes her Bible studies very seriously. Even though she is struggling economically, she always provides 10 % of her total income to her church.
Faith has become her armor, creation her weapon.
A Living Cultural Treasure
Despite battling disease, Murielle remains a source of inspiration and hope. She dreams of returning to Haiti to continue her work and dancing, but as she laments, the “ plip plip men” and their corrupt allies have made that impossible. Still, she prays for Haiti, for justice, and for a cultural renaissance.
She is more than a designer. She is a diva, a mentor, a national asset, and a cultural ambassador. She has carried Haitian fashion where no agency or ministry has dared to go.
Looking Ahead
On December 8, 2025, Murielle Leconte will celebrate her 65th birthday and 35th anniversary as a designer. Plans are already underway to host a tribute cocktail in Miami for those who stood by her through her treatments. While she fights to regain her strength, she remains focused on creating beauty, healing souls, and elevating Haitian culture, one collection at a time.
Murielle Leconte is not just a fashion designer. She is a symbol of Haitian resilience, a steward of heritage, and a queen in her own right.
Let this spotlight remind us all: fashion can be a form of resistance, a tool of empowerment, and above all, an act of love for one’s people.
Published on May 16, 2025 | This article was reviewed and approved by Murielle Leconte before publication.
Photo Credit: Richardson Dorvil & Co. | Featured images courtesy of Murielle Leconte.
The HMI Magazine
