Meghan Markle takes her love of fashion to a whole new level.
In an interview with The New York Times published Wednesday, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex revealed that she recently invested in Cesta Collective, a mission-driven handbag brand that she has worn countless times over the past few years.
“I spend a lot of time just Googling and looking for brands,” she said.
“When people search for things online or read things, I try to find great new designers, especially in different areas.”
Cesta Collective’s signature basket bags are handwoven by women in Rwanda – “who we are proud to pay 500 to 700 times the national average salary,” the brand explains on its website – and then finished in Italy.
Markle first wore the company’s drawstring bucket bag ($790) at a dinner in May 2023 with her husband Prince Harry and friends Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz at Sushi Bar in Santa Barbara. The model promptly sold out.
“We sold more in one day than we ever have before,” Erin Ryder, co-founder of Cesta Collective, told the Times. She and her partner Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano reached out to the queen to thank her for her support, and this year Markle became the brand’s first outside investor.
Markle spoke about her influence in the fashion industry in the interview, recalling that a Strathberry Midi Tote ($845) she wore at a public appearance in 2017 also sold out (in just 11 minutes).
That moment “changed everything about how I viewed putting together an outfit at that time,” she said.
“When I know the world is in the spotlight and every detail of what I wear or don’t wear is getting attention, I support designers that I have really good friendships with and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. That’s one of the most impactful things I can do and that’s simply wearing earrings.”
The host of the Archetypes podcast was also spotted wearing Cesta Collective’s Braided Canvas Tote ($750) and Crossbody ($750), the latter at the 2023 Invictus Games.
She paired the brand’s brown Suede Cutch ($490) with her Max Mara wrap coat in February, and also brought a beige version of the Crossbody ($750) for her and Prince Harry’s recent trip to Colombia, which she paired with two different outfits.
Markle is familiar with investments.
The Times article notes that Markle’s growing portfolio includes ten different companies, including vegan instant latte brand Clevr Blends.
“Investing in them helped prepare me for this chapter of investing in myself,” she said, referring to her new business venture, American Riviera Orchard.