Ever since The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, announced that she was releasing a clothing line in collaboration with some of our favourite British high-street brands, we’ve been on tenterhooks. We can now confirm that the fashion line is finally here. On Thursday (12 September), Smart Works shared the news that the collection is available to buy. 

Meghan has collaborated with John Lewis & Partners, Marks & Spencer, Jigsaw and Misha Nonoo to create a working wardrobe for Smart Works clients. The charity helps long term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the confidence they need to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives. Meghan became Patron of Smart Works in January this year and is supportive of the impactful work being done to help women into the workforce.

For every item bought during the sale of the collection, which will last for at least two weeks, one will be donated to Smart Works. 

The Smart Set will be available in stores, online and in Smart Works Dressing Rooms across the UK from 12 Thursday September. To ensure the capsule collection is as accessible and inclusive as possible, the pieces will be available at a range of different price points and in a range of different sizes and colours

The Duchess worked with Smart Works and each of the brands individually on these key work wear pieces, to carefully curate The Smart Set Capsule Collection.

What’s in Meghan Markle’s new clothing line and where to buy it

Speaking about the collection, Meghan said: “Since moving to the UK, it has been deeply important to me to meet with communities and organisations on the ground doing meaningful work and to try to do whatever I can to help them amplify their impact. 

“It was just last September that we launched the Together cookbook with the women of the Hubb Kitchen in Grenfell. Now, one year later, I am excited to celebrate the launch of another initiative of women supporting women, and communities working together for the greater good. 

“When you buy any item in the Smart Set Capsule Collection for Smart Works, the same item will be given to a Smart Works client, and with it, the confidence and support she needs to enter the workforce and take an important step in building a career. 

“Thank you to the four brands who came together in supporting Smart Works on this special project - placing purpose over profit and community over competition. In convening several companies rather than one, we’ve demonstrated how we can work collectively to empower each other - another layer to this communal success story, that I am so proud to be a part of.”

Stylist’s editor, Susan Riley, says: “I never imagined myself and the Duchess of Sussex would be together in John Lewis. But today that unlikely scenario unfolded.

“Invited to a private reception to support a new charitable collection with Smart Works, I twigged this wasn’t an ordinary press launch a few weeks back. A request for photo ID was one clue. Not to pack any liquids or bring a bag over A4 in size another (a shout out to my colleague for lending me her diminutive Alexander Wang with five minutes to go).

“Oxford Street’s John Lewis rooftop is a charming place at the best of times; wooden huts and deckchairs in summer, cosy lights and ice rink pop ups in winter. This time, the set up was slightly Hamptons wedding-esque; white chairs in rows, M&S food being served as canapes on black slate boards (to explain, the collaboration is with high street titans Jigsaw, John Lewis, and M&S as well as Misha Nonoo), while the UK’s fashion press waited for the Duchess to arrive.

“In person, she’s warm, low key and charismatic. Wearing a simple crisp white shirt and black trousers to echo the capsule collection she had come to publicise, the Duchess talked with passion of her past visits to Smart Works, and her hopes regarding what this collaboration would mean for the Smart Works charity and the women it helps empower (15,000 and counting in 8 centres around the UK). She laughed as she recalled seeing 40-50 lilac blazers on one visit, and her renewed desire to offer women the clothes they really needed to feel confident and equipped to get a job. ‘This isn’t charity, this is community. Community is sharing the blazer that you wore to the interview for your dream job because you don’t need it anymore.’

“Discussing how the project worked – for every item bought, one more is donated to Smart Works – she added: ‘The key is remembering that it’s not just about helping people that you know, but that you’re supporting those that you don’t. I see it as our role to be rallying around each other and saying: I want to help you. To be lifting each other up.’”

Sizes range from 6-24 across the Smart Set Capsule Collection. Over the two week campaign, for every garment purchased the retailer will donate one garment to Smart Works.

Images: Smart Works