The Duchess of Sussex is bringing her philanthropic mission to the fashion industry. Revealed in her recent guest-edited September issue of British Vogue, Meghan Markle is teaming with fashion designer Misha Nonoo to create a capsule collection of workwear clothes meant to benefit the U.K. women’s charity Smart Works, which provides clothing and tools to unemployed women.
From the duchess’ history with Nonoo to the details of the charitable initiative, here is the inside scoop on Markle and Nonoo’s fashion collaboration.
In an article written by the Duchess of Sussex for her guest-edited September issue of British Vogue, Meghan Markle revealed that she reached out to New York-based designer and close friend Misha Nonoo to collaborate on a fashion capsule collection that offered classic workwear options for women.
Some might be wondering how the two know each other. Turns out, the Duchess of Sussex and Nonoo are long-time friends, with the designer attending Markle’s royal wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018 and her private baby shower in New York City back in February. It’s been reported that Nonoo is one of the close friends that first introduced Markle to Prince Harry. Nonoo is also friends with other members of the royal family, including Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, and has posted pictures with the royals on her Instagram account.
The idea for the collaboration came from the Duchess’ work with Smart Works, a U.K.-based women’s charity that provides clothing, tools and coaching to unemployed women, and her desire to give back to the organization. The duchess is also teaming up with U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer, U.K. department store chain John Lewis & Partners and U.K. fashion brand Jigsaw to help with the collection. For every piece purchased by a customer, one will be donated back to Smart Works. The line will be released in September.
In January, the Duchess of Sussex was appointed the royal patron of Smart Works. During the same month, she visited the charity and met Patsy Wardally, an unemployed woman seeking assistance from Smart Works. Together, Markle helped Wardally look through the charity’s assortment of clothing and accessories. “It’s the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the earnestness of the staff and, most of all, the blushing, bashful and beautiful smile that crosses a client’s face when she sees herself in the mirror, that I have found so profoundly compelling,” Markle writes in British Vogue on her reasoning for the charitable collection.
On Aug. 21, a behind the scenes video was posted to Markle’s Instagram account she shares with Prince Harry, @sussexroyal, giving their followers a sneak peek at the upcoming campaign for the capsule collection. Markle is seen in the Instagram Stories working with the photographer and assisting the styling for the photo shoot.
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