Meghan Markle spoke about her role as a small venture capitalist in a new interview with The New York Times. AFP via Getty Images
Meghan Markle says investing in other women-owned businesses inspired her to launch her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Wednesday, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that she began investing in smaller brands during the pandemic and now has between five and 10 brands in her portfolio.
The 43-year-old told the Times that she sees the companies as complements to her own lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which she launched in March.
Markle spoke about her decision to invest in other women-owned brands. AFP via Getty Images Markle said that funding other companies inspired her to start “investing” in herself. American Riviera Orchard
“Investing in them has really prepared me for this chapter of investing in myself,” she told the outlet.
She jokingly called her micro-investing plan “Dolphin Tank,” a reference to the hit ABC series “Shark Tank.”
“These are friendly waters,” she said, comparing it to the cutthroat nature of reality TV.
After getting engaged to Prince Harry in 2017, Markle realised what an impact she could have on a brand by simply wearing its clothes.
Markle launched her own lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in March. “Investing in them has really prepared me for this chapter of investing in myself,” she told the outlet.
At their first royal event as an engaged couple, Markle wore a midi tote bag from Scottish brand Strathberry, which cost $675 at the time, leading to a 5,000% increase in search traffic for the small company.
The bag sold out just 11 minutes after Markle was seen carrying it.
Markle said the moment “changed the whole way I thought about outfit combinations from then on.”
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Markle described her investment plan as a “dolphin tank.” GTres/SplashNews.com Markle said she is “friendly” with all of her business partners. Archewell Foundation via Getty Images
“At a time when the world is paying attention to every detail of what I am and am not wearing, I'm supporting designers that I'm really close friends with and smaller, emerging brands that don't get the attention they deserve,” she said.
“That's one of the most powerful things I can do, and that's simply to wear earrings.”
The former “Suits” star said she “spends a lot of time just Googling” brands that she could relate to, and in the process, she stumbled across her latest investment, Cesta Collective, a female-led brand that specializes in hand-knitted bags.
During the interview, she announced that she has a minority stake in female-owned bag company Cesta Collective. WireImage Markle began working with the brand after wearing one of the brand's handbags to dinner with her husband, Prince Harry, last year (pictured above). TMZ
Markle wore a Chesta handbag to a star-studded dinner date last year, and as always, the handbag was life-changing for founders Erin Ryder and Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano.
“Our sales in one day were the biggest we've ever had,” Ryder told the outlet, adding that he sent the Duchess a letter of thanks and that their working relationship developed from there.
Markle, who has investments in everything from instant latte companies to clothing brands, will sell a variety of products under her American Riviera Orchard label, including tableware, home décor, cosmetics, cookbooks, bottled foods, yoga equipment, and pet products.
The Duchess will own between five and 10 brands. UK Press via Getty Images Meanwhile, in the US, Riviera Orchard will sell everything from bottled food to yoga equipment to pet supplies. Tracey Robbins / Instagram
A source told Page Six last month that she's also finished filming a lifestyle show that's set to premiere on Netflix in early 2025.
Little is known about the show, including its name, but industry insiders say it's already shaping up to be “amazing.”
In the highly anticipated series, Markle is expected to share her favourite recipes and “go head-to-head” against some of America's most famous lifestyle queens, such as Martha Stewart and Aina Garten.
Her husband is also rumored to make a cameo appearance, but his role within the brand has yet to be revealed.
