Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry lift Canada’s fashion industry? Canadian labels have felt the ‘Meghan effect’ before

Experts says the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moving to Canada will shine a light on Canadian fashion given Markle’s liking for small labels and effect on sales

‘She’s going to impact lives by simply wearing a dress,’ one observer says. ‘He’s going to be an inspiration for a global style for menswear,’ says another

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Experts says Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s move to Canada will give a royal boost to Canada’s fashion industry. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00pm, 1 Feb 2020Updated: 6:13pm, 2 Feb 2020

Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s move to Canada could boost its C$30.6 billion (US$23.3 billion) fashion industry, experts say, by putting the spotlight on local brands.

Harry, 35, and Markle, 38, announced last month they were stepping down from their royal roles to protect their privacy and gain financial independence from the monarchy.

Canadian fashion commentators say they expect the “Meghan effect” – where a brand sees a jump in sales after the Duchess of Sussex sports one of their products – to continue regardless of the couple’s future public roles.

“People just absolutely lap up whatever [Markle] wears,” says Jeanne Beker, a long-time fashion columnist based in Toronto. “Designers from all over the globe have been clamouring to get their clothes on her body.”

Prince Harry (left) and Markle, wearing a white coat by Line the Label, at The Sunken Gardens, Kensington Palace in London. Photo: NZME

Canada’s fashion industry has slowed recently. Retail sales of clothing and accessories fell 2.1 per cent in 2017 to C$30.6 billion compared with an increase of 6.7 per cent in the retail sector as a whole, industry data showed.