Meghan Markle turns three brands into overnight sensations

Meghan Markle has demonstrated to have a pretty sizeable influence when it comes to fashion, with items and jewels she wears quickly selling out.

The Duchess of Sussex first realised her star power after she and Prince Harry announced the news of their engagement and she stepped out for her first-ever royal walkabout.

For that occasion, Meghan sported a Tri-Colour Midi Tote bag by the Edinburgh-based family fashion brand Strathberry.

The bag quickly sold out and Meghan realised the potential of her influence. Recalling that episode, she told the New York Times this week: “[It] changed everything in terms of how I then looked at putting an outfit together.”

Seeing how her wardrobe could influence positive change, Meghan decided to highlight lesser-known brands, often with women at the helm, while also sticking to her classic faves such as Dior and Victoria Beckham.

There are other designers that Meghan has since catapulted into mainstream fame, with many of her much-loved items quickly selling out.

Meghan told The New York Times: “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.”

Strathberry is one of these companies which owes its fame to the Duchess. After she wore the tote, the brand sold 400 of them within just 24 hours.

Retailing at £495 per tote, the bags flew off the shelves via their website, quickly selling out which helped the Edinburgh brand triple in size.

Co-founder Guy Hundleby told the Telegraph of the appearance: “It was [Meghan’s] first official royal event after her engagement. We suddenly had interview requests from around the world. We’re a pretty private family so the interest in us was scary. But for the brand it was phenomenal and it has driven our business.”

Another designer Meghan helped is Colombian-based Johanna Ortiz, with the Duchess wearing her pieces on several occasions, including at the Women of Vision award in May 2023.

The Duchess has also opted for Johanna Ortiz outfits on different tours, first in Nigeria and most recently in Colombia, the home of the designer.

Meghan 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.”

She also revealed that she tries to organically find brands that are meaningful to her. One such company is Cesta Collective, a brand whose signature basket bags are handcrafted by women in Rwanda.

According to the brand’s website, these women are paid 500-700 percent above the national average salary, and then the bags are finished in Italy.

Cesta Collective first went viral after Meghan wore the drawstring Bucket Bag (£609) during a dinner date with Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz in Santa Barbara, with the bag quickly sold out.

“We had more sales in one day than we’ve ever had,” Cesta Collective co-founder Erin Ryder told the Times.