Inside Meghan Markle's wardrobe as Duchess favours little-known brands

Meghan Markle doesn’t fail when it comes to fashion, often intentionally choosing timeless classic brands, unknown designers and companies that are close to her passions and philanthropy.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, admitted she didn’t realise her star power until she came into the spotlight after getting engaged to Prince Harry.

On her first royal engagement with the Duke, the Duchess was wearing a tote bag by the Edinburgh-based family fashion brand Strathberry. The bag then sold out within 11 minutes and their web traffic grew exponentially.

Since then, Meghan has carefully selected brands she believes are worth having a spotlight on and tries to invest organically in companies that pay particular attention to women.

She also favours some very well-known designers including Dior, sporting a bag she gifted for herself with her initials emblazoned on it, as well as Victoria Beckham who she has worn on a few occasions.

For the most part, Meghan tries to harness her fame to bring attention to companies doing good work.

In an interview with the New York Times, she explained her strategy: “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.”

One of the companies she’s invested in include Cesta Collective, an accessories brand specialising in basket bags handwoven by a group of women in Rwanda which are then finished in Italy.

Meghan also told 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.”

One of those brands includes Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz whose clothes Meghan has worn several times, most recently during tour in Colombia. She also wore the label during the Nigeria tour and at the Women of Vision awards in May 2023.

For shoes, Meghan favours Manolo Blahnik, Aquazzura and Jimmy Choo but has also celebrated lesser-known Lebanese-born Jennifer Chamandi Boghossian.

For accessories, the Duchess enjoys lab-grown diamond company Kimaï, Roxanne First, and Sophie Lis from whom she has a £400 Love pendant made by the British jewellery designer.