Jean Leon was born in Antioch, Syria, in 1926. He started working as a tailor, and by age 26, owned a successful tailor shop serving men and women in Aleppo. In 1957, Jean emigrated to the U.S., settling first in New York City, then Boston, where he advanced from tailor to pattern maker at a clothing company. He began teaching pattern making at The School of Fashion Design in 1960. In 1961, Jean co-founded, with Alfred Fiandaca, the couture label Leondaca, gaining a reputation for dressing Boston’s elite women. Several years later, he left amicably to work at a respected clothing manufacturer. He moved his family to Atlanta in 1978 and turned to Middle Eastern baking and groceries. Leon died in 1994.
See also: Leondaca
Written by denisebrain
