Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has unveiled a clever business strategy that’s allowing her to support small brands while potentially reaping financial rewards.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, the 43-year-old royal revealed her latest investment in luxury handbag brand Cesta Collective, adding to a growing portfolio of carefully selected companies.
The Duchess’s approach is simple yet effective: invest in small, up-and-coming brands, then wear their products during public appearances.
This strategy not only provides financial backing to these businesses but also leverages Meghan’s considerable star power to boost their visibility and sales.
Meghan’s influence on fashion and consumer behavior is well-documented.
In 2019, she was named the most powerful dresser of the year by global search platform Lyst.
The report indicated that Meghan’s fashion choices led to a staggering 216 percent increase in searches for similar styles throughout the year.
One of the most striking examples of the “Meghan Effect” occurred in 2017 when she carried a bag from Scottish brand Strathberry during an engagement with her then-fiancé, Prince Harry.
The bag sold out online within 11 minutes, significantly impacting the brand’s sales and allowing them to expand their workforce.
This experience was a turning point for Meghan.
She told The New York Times that it “changed everything in terms of how [she] then looked at putting an outfit together.”
Recognizing the power of her public appearances, Meghan now consciously chooses to support designers she has “really great friendships with” and “smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention that they should be getting.”
Meghan’s investment portfolio currently includes between five to ten brands, though she’s only confirmed two: Cesta Collective and Clevr Blends, a vegan powdered latte brand.
Her first investment came in 2020 with Clevr Blends, a company she discovered in 2017 at a pop-up store.
Meghan not only invested in the brand but also used her connections to promote it, famously sending a basket of products to her neighbor Oprah Winfrey, who shared them online.
The Duchess’s most recent investment, Cesta Collective, caught her eye while she was online shopping.
The brand, which sells handwoven purses made by women in Rwanda and finished in Italy, aligns with Meghan’s focus on ethical and sustainable businesses.
She was recently photographed carrying a $750 Cesta Collective purse during a trip to Colombia with Prince Harry, undoubtedly giving the brand a significant boost in visibility.
Another beneficiary of Meghan’s influence is Kimaï, a London-based lab-grown diamond company.
In 2019, Meghan was photographed wearing a pair of £630 Felicity earrings from the brand, which she had purchased herself.
This endorsement led to a remarkable $1.2 million in sales for Kimaï, according to the company’s co-founders.
Meghan’s investment strategy appears to be carefully curated, with each brand aligning with her emerging lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
While the launch of her own brand has faced some trademark hurdles, Meghan remains focused on building a portfolio that reflects her values and interests.
The Duchess’s approach to investing and fashion is not just about personal gain.
She understands the global spotlight on her wardrobe and uses it to support designers and brands she believes in.
“It’s the most powerful thing you can do, to just wear one thing,” Meghan explained to The New York Times.
As Meghan continues to build her investment portfolio, she’s keeping a close eye on companies that align with her values.
She sees this strategy as a way of investing in herself while also supporting businesses she believes in.
It’s a win-win situation that showcases Meghan’s business acumen and her commitment to using her platform for good.
In the ever-evolving world of celebrity influence and ethical investing, Meghan Markle is carving out a unique niche.
By combining her royal status, fashion sense, and business savvy, she’s creating a model that supports small businesses while potentially generating returns.
It’s a strategy that could set a new standard for how public figures engage with brands and use their influence in the business world.
