By: Della Lin
After just four weeks of maternity leave, Meghan Markle returned to the spotlight by launching a new clothing line for Smart Works. The duchess is a royal patron for this charity and has helped it grow significantly since becoming affiliated with it. Smart Works is an organization that focuses on supporting unemployed women and helping these women prepare for job interviews. Every woman receives a personalized styling session with two Smart Works volunteer stylists, where they create professional and comfortable looks unique to each of the women involved. The woman being styled will then be able to confidently wear this to her interview and even keep it for free. Additionally, the women receive a one-on-one interview with an experienced HR professional or senior manager to continue to practice and become fully ready for their real interviews. Once she successfully interviews, gets the job, and receives her first paycheck, she is welcomed back for a second dressing to be given five additional pieces of clothing. This entire process creates a new level of confidence that these women need and offers them immense support when entering the workforce. They are now even more ready to take such an important step in building a career and improving their lives.
Meghan Markles’s initial inspiration for creating this clothing line was to help the women find great outfits with more ease. She explained in a British Vogue article that, “when you walk into a Smart Works space, you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes. Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colors, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.” In order to solve this problem, Meghan collaborated with Misha Nonoo, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, and Jigsaw to create a more classic wardrobe. The clothing line includes professional attire, such as blazers, shirts, dresses, tote bags, and trousers. For every item of clothing sold, another will be donated to Smart Works. The duchess recently attended a reception at the John Lewis department store to showcase her capsule collection of workwear and accessories. This event was one of her first royal appearances since the birth of her and Prince Harry’s son, Archie Harrison, in May. During the launch, Meghan Markle said, “As women, it is 100 percent our responsibility, I think, to support and uplift each other, to champion each other as we aim to succeed.” So far, the new clothing line has helped more than 11,000 women find great outfits and fulfill their goals in the workforce.
Markle continues to express her passion for women’s empowerment. In a statement, Markle said, “Since moving to the United Kingdom, it has been deeply important to me to meet with communities and organizations on the ground doing meaningful work and to try to do whatever I can to help them amplify their impact. I am excited to celebrate the launch of another initiative of women supporting women, and communities working together for the greater good.” Additionally, as written in British Vogue, she said, “Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together.” Megan is focused on creating unity within the female community and encouraging women to support each other. Many of Markle’s pieces were sold out almost immediately, which was expected given Markle’s long standing impact on the fashion industry, dubbed “the Meghan Markle Effect.” The duchess’s influence around the globe has helped the success of this project dramatically. More sales equals more donations to Smart Works, which leads to more women being helped. Due to Meghan Markles’s creation of this outstanding clothing line, thousands of women were able to be granted the necessary help needed to get them on track to greatness!
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
