Star Power Meghan Markle boosts sales of Australian brand

Meghan Marklethe Duchess of Sussex, once again proved her ability to influence fashion trends and raise new brands.

According to a report, Australian label Posse experienced a significant spike in sales after the royal family wore their products.

Meghan Markle is known to intentionally support young designers and invest in brands like Cesta Collective and Clevr Blends.

The founder of Australian fashion brand Posse has praised Meghan Markle for a significant increase in their sales, highlighting the Duchess’s strong influence on consumer trends.

In an interview with City and villagePosse owner Daniela Mulham expressed her gratitude for Megan’s continued support, noting the tremendous impact of her support.

“We are so grateful for the continued support she continues to show our brand and love seeing her wear Posse,” Malham said, according to Daily Mail.

This surge in popularity isn’t unique to the Posse, as Meghan’s fashion choices have caused huge sales spikes for many brands.

A standout moment came in 2017 when one of Scottish brand Strathberry’s handbags sold out in just 11 minutes after Meghan carried it during an appearance with Prince Harry.

Strathberry is also reported to have expanded its workforce due to a surge in sales after Meghan donned their products, demonstrating the financial power behind her endorsements.

London-based lab-grown diamond brand Kimaï is another company that has benefited greatly from the Megan effect.

In 2019, Meghan was spotted wearing $767 worth of Felicity earrings, which she purchased in person.

According to Daily Mailco-founders Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus revealed that the appearance of the Duchess led to a spike in sales, bringing in $1.2 million.

Warch shared that Kimaï launched with no outside funding, but after just two months, Meghan’s support significantly increased their revenue, raising $1.2 million.

The brand, known for its use of lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold, eventually received a record £250,000 from Dragon’s Den star Stephen Bartlett in exchange for a 3% stake in its biggest deal to date.

As of January, Kimaï is forecast to turn a profit of US$608,000 (£500,000) in 2024 after four years of unprofitable operations.

Meanwhile, Meghan is fully aware of her significant influence on fashion brands and deliberately uses it to boost the spirits of up-and-coming designers.

In an interview with The New York Timesshe shared that when she knows her outfit is going to be in the spotlight, she chooses to “support designers that (she has) really good friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention they should.”

“It’s one of the most powerful things I can do, and it’s just wearing an earring,” Megan explained.

In addition to showcasing brands through her fashion choices, Meghan has also invested in several companies, holding stakes in five to ten brands.

However, the only publicly confirmed investments are in Cesta Collective and Clevr Blends, a vegan powdered latte brand available in the UK at £23 for a 14-serve packet.

While the Duchess did not disclose the exact amount of the investment, Cesta’s founders confirmed that her contribution was a minority stake.

Meghan reportedly began building her investment portfolio during the pandemic. In December 2020, the Duchess announced her investment in Clevr Blends, a health coffee brand known for its organic gluten-free ‘SuperLattes’ powder.

In a 2019 Fortune statement, Meghan expressed her support for the company’s founder, Hanna Mendoza.

“This investment supports a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business,” she said. “I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally enjoy and that takes a holistic approach to wellness. I believe in her and I believe in her company.”

Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, are doing everything they can to support the victims of the wildfires in Los Angeles.

The couple donated through their Archewell Foundation, volunteered at shelters and opened their home in Montecito to friends left behind by the fires.

In yet another show of support, Meghan has decided to delay the launch of her Netflix cooking show ‘Love, Meghan’.

In a statement to People magazineThe Duchess expressed her gratitude to Netflix for supporting her decision to prioritize those affected by the fires in her home state.

“I am grateful to my partners at Netflix for their support in delaying the launch as we focus on the needs of those affected by the wildfires in California,” she said.

Meghan’s new cooking show, originally scheduled for January 15th, has been pushed back to March 4th.