Duchess of Sussex to create workplace fashion capsule for charity

The Duchess of Sussex is creating a capsule workwear collection in partnership with a number of high profile retailers and the Smart Works charity, which aims to help disadvantaged women get back into the workplace

Meghan has partnered with leading fashion retailers Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Jigsaw to create the capsule and for every item sold another will be donated to the charity.

The Duchess of Sussex revealed the initiative in an article written for the September issue of British Vogue, which she guest-edited.

In the article she wrote: “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 colours, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.

“To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friend, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe."

As well as providing suitable workwear to help women find a job, Smart Works also provides interview coaching and, if a client is successful in securing a role, they are invited back to the charity to select five additional items of clothing to give them the start of a working wardrobe.

The charity has a number of patrons from the fashion industry including designer Betty Jackson and former Topshop and Whistles boss Jane Shepherdson.

Meghan visits Smart Works

The Duchess became the royal patron of the charity at the start of the year and has been paying quiet visits to Smart Works where she speaks to women who have benefitted from the service. On the SussexRoyal Instagram page Meghan has been sharing photos of those visits.