It’s official, the Duchess of Sussex is returning from maternity leave next week, where she’ll be launching her capsule clothing collection of women’s essential workwear which will help benefit one of her patronages, Smart Works.
Meghan will be launching the collection on September 12th, which she’s designed with her friend Misha Nonoo in collaboration with Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and fashion label Jigsaw.
The initiative will work on a one-for-one basis – for every item sold, an item will be donated to Smart Works, a charity which helps unemployed women get back into the workforce with confidence.
The launch of the collection, which is said to include a shirt, trousers, blazer, dress and bag, will be marked with an engagement, which will see Meghan discuss the project and include a panel discussion between Smart Works and clients, explains royal correspondent Omid Scobie, and will be on sale for at least two weeks.
Meghan’s capsule collection will feature workwear essentials, and will help to benefit one of her patronages, Smart Works. (Image: Instagram/@sussexroyal)
Writing about the charity in the September issue of British Vogue, Meghan said, “There is often a misunderstanding about Smart Works being a makeover, a fashion show of ‘before and after,’ where a woman is magically transformed into something better than she was before.
“But to label it as such would not only be inaccurate, it would be missing the point. This is not a fairy tale. In fact, if it’s a cultural reference you’re after, forget Cinderella – this is the story of Wonder Woman, ready to take on the world in her metaphorical and literal cape.”
Meghan was announced as the first ever royal patron of the charity in January, alongside three other appointments which were chosen to “reflect the causes and issues with which she has long been associated with including the arts, access to education, support for women and animal welfare,” explained a statement by Kensington Palace at the time.
Following her visit to the charity earlier this year, Smart Works job interview coach Marina Novis had plenty of praise for the Duchess.
“She has done so much research. That’s what I’m so impressed by,” Marina told Hello! at the time.
“It’s not just an honourary thing, she really cares. She’s amazing at talking with the candidates because she really listens and asks pertinent questions.”
The launch of Meghan’s collection will mark her first official engagement since going on maternity leave in March, ahead of the birth of her and Prince Harry’s first child together, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
Meghan’s vision for the project was to help reframe the idea of charity as community. (Image: Instagram/ @SussexRoyal)
Since Archie’s birth four months ago, the Duchess has made a handful of surprise appearances alongside Harry.
These include attending the Queen’s public birthday celebration, Trooping the Colour in June, an unexpected appearance at the first Major League baseball game in London with Harry and heading along to the European premiere of the Lion King, where she rubbed shoulders with music royalty, meeting Beyoncé, who voiced Nala in the film’s latest adaption.
She will no doubt also be gearing up for the Sussexes’ upcoming royal tour of southern Africa, which will be their first international tour as a family-of-three.
Announcing the exciting news back in July, just this week Prince Harry took to Instagram to share the exact date they’ll be touching down in South Africa – it’s September 23rd – and his excitement of showing his family the continent which he views as his “second home”.
Posting to Sussex Royal Prince Harry wrote, “In just a few weeks our family will be taking its first official tour to Africa, a region of the world that over the past two decades has been a second home to me.
“Our team has helped create a meaningful programme that we’re so excited to share with you.
“On a personal note, I can’t wait to introduce my wife and son to South Africa! We’ll see all of you very soon.”
Meghan, Harry and Archie are due to touch down in South Africa on September 23rd, with Prince Harry making visits to the neighbouring countries of Angola, Botswana, Malawi, it will also make Archie the youngest royal to ever embark on an international tour, at just four-months-old!
