Meghan Markle becomes first outside investor in Rwandan hand-woven bag company

Meghan Markle, who famously left her life in the British Royal Family behind, is expanding her business portfolio and investing in several women-owned businesses, including handbag company Sesta Collective.

In a new interview with The New York Times on Thursday, August 28, the Duchess of Sussex formally announced that she is the first outside investor in the company, which specializes in hand-woven basket bags made by a collective of Rwandan women before being sent to Italy for finishing.

In a statement, Markle said Courtney Weinblatt and Erin Ride, who co-founded this luxury bag company in 2018, are “truly an incredibly strategic business.”

“The quality of the brand's products, the supply chain, the ethical standards and practices, these are all things I consider before making an investment,” the Duchess of Sussex continued.

“Through my work with Sesta, I've come to understand how many women's lives are impacted and enhanced. It has been incredibly important to me.”

Markle also said in the same statement that “Erin and Courtney have a great pedigree from their careers working in the fashion industry and have created beautiful products that help many of the same people.” [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...]