Meghan Markle is taking her love of fashion to a whole new level.
In a New York Times interview published Wednesday, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, revealed that she recently invested in Cesta Collective, a mission-based handbag brand she’s worn numerous times over the past couple of years.
“I spend a lot of time just Googling, looking for brands,” she said.
“When people are online looking for things or reading things, I’m trying to find great new designers, especially in different territories.”
Cesta Collective’s signature basket bags are handwoven by women in Rwanda — “whom we are proud to pay 500-700% times the national average salary,” as the brand states on its website — and then finished in Italy.
Cesta Collective Bucket Bag
Markle first carried the company’s drawstring Bucket Bag ($790) during a May 2023 dinner date with husband Prince Harry and pals Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz at Sushi Bar in Santa Barbara. The style promptly sold out.
“We had more sales in one day than we’ve ever had,” Cesta Collective co-founder Erin Ryder told the Times. She and partner Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano reached out to the royal to thank her for her support, and this year, Markle became the brand’s first outside investor.
Markle spoke to her fashion influence in the interview, recalling how after she carried a Strathberry Midi Tote ($845) at a 2017 public engagement, it similarly flew out of stock (in just 11 minutes, no less).
That moment “changed everything in terms of how I then looked at putting an outfit together,” she said.
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“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.”
Cesta Collective Crossbody
The “Archetypes” podcast host has also been spotted carrying Cesta Collective’s Braided Canvas Tote ($750) and Crossbody ($750), the latter at the 2023 Invictus Games.
She matched her brown Suede Cutch ($490) from the brand to her her Max Mara wrap coat in February, and also packed a beige version of the Crossbody ($750) for her and Price Harry’s recent trip to Colombia, styling it with two different outfits.
Cesta Collective Suede Clutch
Markle’s no stranger to investing.
The Times story notes that Markle’s growing portfolio includes 10 different companies, including vegan instant latte brand Clevr Blends.
“Investing in them has helped me line up for this chapter where I’m investing in myself,” she said, referencing her new business venture, American Riviera Orchard.
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