To say the world is obsessed with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first royal tour is a bit of an understatement. Since embarking on their trip of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga, the royal couple’s every move has been thoroughly documented on a global scale.
While the attention may also have something to do with the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child together, the 37-year-old’s A-plus sartorial choices are just adding to the media frenzy. (You may have heard of a little called the “Meghan Markle effect”.)
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With 76 royal engagements spread over a 16-day window, Meghan has had the opportunity to bring an unprecedented amount of attention to various fashion labels. While the royals do have a tendency to adhere to sartorial diplomacy while abroad (often wearing pieces by designers who hail from the country they’re visiting), it has been particularly refreshing to see the Duchess taking more of a sustainable focus with her wardrobe, in addition to wearing Aussie labels.
Here, a look at the brands Meghan has chosen to spotlight:
Rothy’s Flats
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Meghan has been pushing her sustainable fashion agenda since the very first day of the tour when she slipped off her Manolo Blahnik BB pumps and slipped into a pair of $145 black Rothy’s flats for a boat ride across Sydney Harbour.
Besides being a practical choice, the pointed flats are made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles. According to the brand’s website, they have already re-purposed more than 18 million bottles — and that number will likely continue to climb thanks to Meghan.
Outland Denim
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On day two of the royal tour, Meghan stepped out in a pair of $195 black skinny jeans by Australian label Outland Denim, which she paired with a blazer from bestie Serena Williams’s clothing line.
Outland provides employment to survivors of sex trafficking and women at risk of poverty in Cambodia, according to their website. In addition to having a strong social conscience, Outland makes a point to use only sustainably sourced materials.
The brand has already seen an impact in sales thanks to the Duchess. In a press release, they revealed that “thanks to the Meghan effect, it will be possible to employ a further 15 to 30 seamstresses in [the] Cambodian production house in coming weeks, for which recruitment as already begun.”
Stella McCartney Dress
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At the opening of the Invictus Games in Sydney, Meghan rewore her Stella McCartney navy cape dress, which she was last seen in at the Queen’s 92nd birthday celebration earlier this year.
As a designer, Stella McCartney has been a pioneer in the sustainable fashion movement and her eponymous label is recognized for its commitment to being both eco-and animal-friendly, opting out of using any fur or leather in their designs. The Duchess has worn McCartney before, most notably at her wedding reception.
Veja Sneakers
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While aboard a boat in Sydney Harbour, Meghan wore a pair of $150 white Veja V-10 sneakers to watch an Invictus Games sailing event. Popular among eco-conscious celebrities like Emma Watson and Marion Cotillard, the footwear brand has been making environmentally-friendly sneakers since 2005 with a focus on transparency. As mentioned on their website, all of their shoes are made with raw material sourced from organic family and ecological agriculture, without chemicals or pollution processes.
Reformation Maxi Dress
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While visiting Fraser Island on her final day in Australia, Meghan wore a breezy $218 thigh-high slit “Pineapple” maxi dress from cool-girl label Reformation.
As a brand, Reformation prides itself on sustainable practices, explaining on their website that they invest in green building to ultimately reduce their waste, water, and energy footprints. With their sustainable venture, RefScale, Reformation is able to track their environmental footprint and pounds of waste generated and share information about each garment’s environmental impact on every product page of their site.
We can only expect to see the Duchess continue to her fashion to do good. Keep it up, Meghan!
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