Meghan Markle has been intentional about investing in female-led companies over the years, The New York Times reports.
Markle, a former actress and Duchess of Sussex through her marriage to Prince Harry, has taken advantage of the limelight to provide greater visibility to brands. A bag she wore from Scotland brand Strathberry after her engagement in 2017 was sold out in 11 minutes.
She said that moment “changed everything in terms of how I then looked at putting an outfit together.” It has led her to become more intentional about what brands she aligns with and wears.
She also mentioned, “Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention that they should be getting. That’s one of the most powerful things that I’m able to do, and that’s simply wearing, like, an earring.”
In 2020, Markle scaled her interest, investing in more brands and companies that were female led. Her first being Clevr Blends, a vegan company founded by Hannah Mendoza and Roger Coppola that sells instant latte blends. It was also featured in “Oprah’s Favorite Things,” per the company website.
She also scoured the internet to look into brands to add to her portfolio.
“I spend a lot of time just Googling, looking for brands,” Meghan said, according to The New York Times. “When people are online looking for things or reading things, I’m trying to find great new designers, especially in different territories.”
More recently, Markle became an investor in Cesta Collective — a company that produces biodegradable bags handwoven by female artisans — founded in 2018 by Erin Ryder and Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano. Markle was also Cesta’s first outside investor.
Although Markle does not reveal the exact percentage of her investment, the founders confirm that her stake was a minority share.
In total, her portfolio, which she describes as more of a “dolphin tank,” rather than “Shark Tank,” includes at least five to 10 brands.
“Investing in them has helped me line up for this chapter where I’m investing in myself,” Meghan expressed, per The New York Times.
