Just when you thought Meghan Markle couldn’t get any busier, the royal-turned-entrepreneur is adding yet another major position to her already impressive resume.
In a New York Times article published today, Meghan revealed she recently invested in Cesta Collective, an accessories brand specializing in basket bags handwoven by a collective of women in Rwanda and finished in Italy, after discovering them during a bout of online shopping. (Meghan did not reveal how much money she put into the brand, but the brand confirmed to the Times it was a minority stake.)
Meghan wearing a Cesta Collective bag during the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany.
“I spend a lot of time just Googling, looking for brands,” Meghan told the publication shortly after returning from her and Prince Harry’s tour of Colombia. “When people are online looking for things or reading things, I’m trying to find great new designers, especially in different territories.”
The collaboration between Meghan and Cesta Collective comes as no surprise to many as the royal has been spotted on numerous occasion toting the brand’s signature woven bags over the years. She was first photographed carrying the label’s Cesta Bucket Bag in an ivory hue during a date night with Harry, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and their spouses in May 2023.
Unsurprisingly, Cesta’s founders, Erin Ryder and Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano, told the Times they noticed in uptick in sales following the appearance.
“We were on our way to Mexico to shoot a look book,” Ryder said. “We got off the plane, got our internet on and, all of a sudden, this one style that had been a little bit sleepy was totally sold through, and we were getting a lot of ‘back in stock’ sign-ups. We knew there had to be some reason that these were selling so quickly, so Courtney did some internet sleuthing to find out. We had more sales in one day than we’ve ever had.”
The Duchess of Sussex has since been seen carrying their crossbody bags in two shades. In November, Meghan was snapped with yet another Cesta Collective bag, a striped canvas tote. Then, this past winter and spring, Meghan made an appearance with the company’s olive green Taco tote and suede clutch.
Meghan earlier this year carrying a Cesta Collective clutch in Beverly Hills.
Meghan told the publication she began noticing the public’s interest in her outfit choices after her first public appearance with Prince Harry following their engagement in 2017. She was spotted with Strathberry purse, another Meghan and royal-loved brand, which also sold out almost instantly. Otherwise known as the Meghan Effect, it “changed everything in terms of how I then looked at putting an outfit together,” she said.
With this latest venture, Meghan indeed has a jam-packed road ahead of her. She’s also invested in Clevr, a company that crafts instant lattes; the launch of American Riviera Orchard is imminent (she’s already been gifting pals homemade jam); and she and Harry have a new Netflix project in the works.
Meghan added of the new business proposition with Cesta, “Investing in them has helped me line up for this chapter where I’m investing in myself.”
Sophie Dweck is the associate shopping editor for Town & Country, where she covers beauty, fashion, home and décor, and more.
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