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When Jo Lewis, head of women's clothing, John Lewis received a call from an unknown unknown number late January afternoon, his last-expected person was the last member of the royal family. But the Duchess of Sussex was tasked with bringing together four of Britain's leading affordable fashion brands to create a capsule collection of workwear, which will be sold at a single price under the Smart Works name.
The idea was born just after Meghan became the boss of the organization, which gives disadvantaged women the proper tools and clothing for their return to work, early in the year. After listening to customers who wanted to feel comfortable and confident, the Duchess realized that even though donations (including items from her own wardrobe) never failed, Smart Works shares did not always have all the sizes, nor the classic staples needed to anchor an outfit. Meghan proposed the idea of a collection to the Smart Works team, including executives Juliet Hughes-Hallett and Kate Stephens, and the success was immediate. "She wanted the basics of a capsule collection to be always available," said one source. BAZAAR. "Songs that were more mixable and compatible, rather than just a new outfit.
"She immediately brought it to light," the source added. "After consulting Smart Works about their needs, she contacted the bosses of each brand directly – impromptu calls!"
Today, Duchess Meghan officially launches the Smart Set, a wardrobe produced in partnership with John Lewis & Partners, Marks & Spencer, Jigsaw and designer Misha Nonoo. The five-piece collection, which will be unveiled today at an in-store event in London's flagship store, John Lewis, brings together the essentials of workwear, including a versatile M & S crepe dress, for all sizes, at just £ 19.50.
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For approximately two weeks, each item purchased in the collection, in-store or online, will be directly offered at one of eight Smart Works locker rooms in the UK. According to Meghan, the articles will provide the trust and assistance that clients need "to enter the job market". and take an important step in building a career. "
It's a bold mission, but projected sales and interest already show that the collection will allow Smart Works to provide customers with basic products for at least next year. As a spokesman for the charity says, "This one-for-one model allows customers to directly support Smart Works women by playing a role in their success."
Almost a year later, she brought together women from a small community kitchen in West London to create a New York Times bestseller, the launch of Smart Set is a continuation of Meghan's focus on UK community initiatives and women's empowerment. "Since I came to the UK, it's very important for me to meet communities and grassroots organizations that are doing useful work and doing everything in their power to help them amplify their impact." said Meghan in a statement. "It was last September that we launched the Together cookbook with women from the Hubb Kitchen in Grenfell. Now, a year later, I am delighted to celebrate the launch of another women's initiative supporting women and communities working together for the greater good. "
The Duchess worked for eight months in close collaboration with the charity and the brands involved to ensure that every aspect of the project is right. In addition to her royal duties and other charitable activities, Meghan closely studied the books from her home in Windsor to organize and perfect the collection, filled with pieces she would wear herself. (Yes, she has the whole range in her own wardrobe!) A favorite? John Lewis' "perfect tote" (£ 109 / $ 134), added to the collection after Meghan spoke to Smart Works about the need to create more user-friendly bags for the office. "The most important thing was that she had to contain a resume [resume]"Explains a source involved in the project, which notes that the design team has decided to produce it in black and beige leather because the colors are" great staples all year ". The John Lewis brand has long supported Smart Works by donating seasonal wardrobes for new inventory and running volunteer programs with the organization.
Another familiar face involved in the Smart Set is the Anglo-Iraqi designer and close friend of the duchess, Misha Nonoo, whose trademark is sober, minimalist. Her popular "Husband Shirt" became the star of her "Easy 8" collection when Meghan brought her to the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto. Now an update of this piece, a flawless white cotton shirt, is available via the Smart Set. , blending perfectly with the black blazer and the well-cut Jigsaw pants. "In terms of the essential pieces you need in your wardrobe, it makes sense that the base of a wardrobe is black and white; for example, the classic white shirt and the tight black pants, "said Nonoo, who will join the other designers at today's launch in London. Empowering women has always been my goal as a designer, and I was delighted that our brand could support so many female professional projects as part of this special partnership. "
Meghan was very involved in the project, and recently surprised the Smart Works team when she joined the Smart Set campaign with fashion and travel photographer Jenny Zarins in a studio in central London. Instead of using professional models, they worked with three women – Andrea, Kate and Zara – who had managed to find a job with the help of Smart Works. Since ancient Vogue editor Juliet Hughes-Hallett founded the organization six years ago. Smart Works has helped 15,000 women re-enter the workforce. "We dressed and trained every woman as if she were the only one and made every client feel exceptional," said Hughes-Hallett. BAZAAR.com in a report. "The Smart Set capsule collection will make a significant difference in our ability to dress our customers with the high-quality clothing and accessories they need, giving them the ability to regain self-confidence, be fabulous and get the position. "
It was important that the visual of the campaign reflect the diversity of unemployed women whose lives have been transformed by the organization. Just over half of Smart Works' clients belong to an ethnic minority and experience long-term unemployment, even after a large number of job applications. Smart Works has a 64% success rate in helping these women find jobs after their visit, where they are dressed for interviews and coached by volunteers. They also have the opportunity to join the Smart Works Network, which meets monthly to enhance the professional and personal development of its members. Once clients have got the job of their dreams, they are invited back for a second outfit, which will help them make their first paycheck.
CLODAGH KILCOYNEGetty Images
"It's the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the seriousness of the staff and, most of all, the glowing, shy and beautiful smile that runs through a client's face when she sees herself in the mirror, which I found so deeply convincing" , said Meghan
This collection has also been an opportunity to highlight the brands that are at the heart of the UK's fashionable scene, just as the global fashion industry is moving into the capital for London Fashion Week. "It was important for the Duchess not only to support the big British brands that she knows and love, but also the ones with which women feel comfortable and familiar," he said. a source, pointing out that Meghan had been impressed by Jigsaw's 2017 advertising campaign celebrating cultural diversity in the UK
As the items begin to sell online, Meghan wants to share them with those who made them possible. "The four brands that have joined forces to support Smart Works in this special project – prioritize profits and the community to compete," she said. "By bringing together several companies rather than just one, we have shown how we can work collectively to reinforce each other, as an additional layer of this shared success, to which I am so proud to be a part."
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