Meghan Markle’s Investment in Sester Collective: A Closer Look at Ethical Fashion’s Dark Side

When Meghan Markle announced her investment in Sester Collective, a luxury handbag line favored by Hollywood's elite, it seemed like a match made in ethical heaven.

However, the reality is proving to be far less glamorous.

The very ethical image she championed is unraveling faster than a poorly stitched seam, revealing troubling truths about the brand and its treatment of artisans in Rwanda.

Initially, Meghan expressed her admiration for Sester Collective's mission to uplift Rwandan women, claiming that she was inspired by the positive impact the brand purportedly had on their lives.

Yet, a recent investigation by the Mill on Sunday has shed light on a much bleaker scenario.

Instead of thriving, these skilled female artisans are reportedly earning as little as 10 pence an hour while Meghan's $1,400 handbags find their way onto the arms of the rich and famous.

The irony is palpable; the very hands that craft these luxury items can barely afford a meal.

Sester Collective once boasted that its workers earned 500 to 700 percent above the average wage in Rwanda.

However, this claim mysteriously vanished from their website following Meghan's involvement.

It seems that ethical branding can be as slippery as a Hollywood romance under the glare of the spotlight.

But the issues don't stop there.

These women, who are supposedly compensated fairly, often face deductions for any imperfections in their work.

They are even required to cover costs related to materials and transportation, with some having to rent workspace from their meager earnings.

Meanwhile, Meghan garners praise for her commitment to empowering women.

One has to wonder: does she truly understand the difference between empowerment and exploitation?

Conversations with some of these artisans reveal their bewilderment over the price tags attached to the bags they produce.

For instance, Illuminae Bayasabi shared that after three exhausting days of labor, she received just £4.93—hardly enough to buy one of those trendy green smoothies that Meghan is known to enjoy.

This situation follows a familiar pattern; it wouldn't be surprising to see Meghan distance herself from this controversy quicker than Prince Harry can pen another memoir.

Expect a carefully crafted statement that either blames Sester's management or claims she was misled.

Accountability seems to be a foreign concept for her.

This isn't the first time Meghan's philanthropic image has come under fire.

Remember her water wall project in Rwanda?

Critics labeled it “poverty porn,” arguing that the polished photos served more to enhance her personal brand than to genuinely address the pressing issues at hand.

The founders of Sester Collective, who boast Ivy League educations and impressive resumes, live lives that starkly contrast with those of the artisans they employ.

While they enjoy skiing holidays and chic Brooklyn apartments, it's difficult to see how they genuinely champion fair wages for the women behind their products.

For Meghan, this venture was supposed to symbolize her journey toward freedom and authenticity.

Yet, time and again, she has been caught making gestures that feel more superficial than sincere.

With a track record riddled with missteps, one can't help but question her true motivations.

Her foray into ethical fashion raises serious questions about her awareness—or perhaps her indifference—to the struggles faced by rural women in Rwanda.

Instead of advocating for better wages and conditions, she aligned herself with a brand that prioritizes image over substance.

As for Harry, this latest debacle is just another entry in a growing list of PR misfires.

Perhaps the royal family's “men in grey suits” weren't as ineffective as they seemed; they might have prevented this latest misadventure from ever happening.

So, what lies ahead for Meghan?

Likely another glossy project where the appearance of doing good overshadows the actual impact.

After all, nothing screams empowerment quite like selling a £724 handbag crafted by hands that earn mere pennies a day.