Meghan Markle's Gold Jewelry Was a Sneaky Tribute to Prince Charles
Meghan Markle's black velvet Givenchy dress and dark nail polish were all the rage at last night's British Fashion Awards, but did you notice her jewelry?
The Duchess of Sussex paired her gown with gold stud earrings and three assorted gold cuffs, all by designer Pippa Small. Although she's worn pieces by the jeweler before, these accessories are especially significant because they're made by artisans in Kabul, Afghanistan and benefit their communities.
The pieces were made by craftspeople of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, a non-profit that trains over 5,000 people in traditional arts and rebuilds community buildings in the old city of Kabul. The organization has a notable royal connection: It was founded by Prince Charles, Meghan's father-in-law, in 2006, in collaboration with former President of Afghanistan, HE Hamid Karzai.
"Since 2006, Turquoise Mountain has restored 150 historic buildings, trained over 6,000 artisans, treated almost 120,000 patients, graduated hundreds of talented artisans, and generated over $6m in international sales from customers like Kate Spade to London’s Connaught Hotel," the organization's website states. The foundation has also helped create over 50 small businesses across Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Middle East.
Meghan's specific jewels last night included an 18k gold vermeil on sterling silver bangle, a thick silver gold plate bangle, a thin silver gold plate bangle, and 18k gold vermeil on sterling silver stud earrings.
This isn't Meghan's first time supporting the organization. She previously wore bangles by Turquoise Mountain while visiting Fiji during her royal tour with Prince Harry in October.
A post shared by Turquoise Mountain (@turquoisemountain) on Oct 31, 2018 at 2:50am PDT
The Duchess of Sussex is no stranger to ethical fashion. She especially wore brands championing good causes during her royal tour, as eco-friendly labels like Veja, Rothy's, and Reformation appeared in her wardrobe.
Meghan also emphasized the importance of empowering people through fashion during last night's awards ceremony. "As all of you in this room know, we have a deep connection to what we wear," she said in a brief speech. "Sometimes it's very personal, sometimes it's emotional. But for me, this connection is rooted in really being able to understand that it's about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women."
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