| Leïla Menchari | |
| Birth Date: | 27 September 1927[1] |
| Birth Place: | Tunis, French Tunisia |
| Death Place: | Paris, France |
| Nationality: | Tunisian |
| Occupation: | Designer Decorator |
Leïla Menchari (Arabic: ليلى المنشاري; 27 September 1927 – 4 April 2020) was a Tunisian designer and decorator.[2]
Menchari was born in Tunis in 1927.[3] Her father was a lawyer and her mother, Habiba Menchari, was known for her lectures on female empowerment. As a teenager, she met Jean and Violet Henson, who introduced Menchari to horticulture and helped her meet artists such as Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, Christian Bérard, and Serge Lifar.[4] In 1943, she entered the Tunis Institute of Fine Arts, and the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1948.[5]
In Paris, Menchari met Azzedine Alaïa.[6] She also met Guy Laroche, who helped her become a star model. However, Menchari quit Laroche's business following the death of her mother and became the decorator for Hermès International headquarters on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. She worked for Hermès as a decorator for over fifty years. She also designed gloves, bags, and clothing, including a coat worn by actress María Félix. Her other responsibilities including supervising the factoring of glass manufacturer Saint-Louis.[7]
Leïla Menchari died on 4 April 2020 in Paris, France, due to COVID-19.[8]