From Duchess to Founder and Investor: Meghan Markle Enters a New Era

Meghan Markle is investing in the following chapter of her life. While rumors swirl about her anticipated lifestyle launch, the Duchess of Sussex is devoting her time and resources to investing in other brands. Since publicly announcing her relationship with Prince Harry, Markle has been living in the worldwide highlight. While that focus has led to scrutiny and harassment, it has also helped the previous Suits actress find latest ways to advocate and amplify causes.

In addition to her advocacy for mental health and combating cyberbullying, Markle has used her platform to promote emerging designers and small businesses. After seeing the overwhelming attention her sartorial selections were receiving, the duchess realized that one of the vital powerful things she could do was wear the brand’s product when making public appearances.

“At a time when I know the global spotlight is on and every detail of what I can or can’t wear is important to me, I support designers who I have really close friendships with and smaller, emerging brands that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve,” she said New York Timesexplaining how seeing brands gain traction after being featured on her has affected her. “(It) changed everything in terms of how I looked at putting an outfit together.”

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Markle recently announced an investment in certainly one of the numerous brands she likes to wear, the women-owned artisan handbag brand Cesta Collective. She joined the brand as an equity investor and strategic partner, and Cesta Collective is now a part of her growing portfolio of women-owned businesses she supports.

“Courtney and Erin (founders of Cesta Collective) have a really amazing and strategic business. The quality of the brand’s products, the supply chain, the ethical standards and practices — those are all things I consider before making an investment,” she said in a press release shared with theGrio. “Cesta really helped me understand how many women have been touched and uplifted by their work. That was incredibly important to me. Erin and Courtney have such a great lineage in fashion and have created beautiful products that are just as effective at helping so many others. That was something I could get behind and support.”

“Investing in them helped me prepare for the chapter where I invest in myself,” added the Duchess of Sussex.

Backing about five to 10 brands, Markle describes her approach to enterprise capital as a “dolphin tank” relatively than the common, cutthroat energy seen on “Shark Tank.” The welcoming environment Markle creates round her investment aligns not only together with her personal brand, but additionally together with her upcoming lifestyle brand.

As theGrio previously reported, the Duchess of Sussex has been teasing a future lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard. Earlier this yr, she unveiled a website and Instagram account under the brand’s name after filing an official trademark application, which lists food, tableware, cutlery, cookbooks and recipe books, coffee and tea sets, tableware, chargers, napkins, card holders, drinkware, table linens, placemats, kitchen and table linens, and more.

While the duchess hasn’t shared many details with the general public, she did give her friends, including clothier Tracy Robbins and photographer Delfina Blaquier, an exclusive have a look at her brand’s products.

“Meghan thinks the name American Riviera Orchard is perfect. It feels authentic to her (and) will reflect everything she loves — family, cooking, entertaining and home decor,” the source previously shared. “She’s excited about her latest personal venture. It’s something she’s wanted to do for a while. She’s excited to share her style and the things she loves.”