‘Meghan Markle Effect’ helps Aussie denim brand expansion

Ethical Australian denim brand Outland continues to cash in on the ‘Markle effect’ after the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wore the jeans during her 2018 visit of Australia with husband Prince Harry.

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Australian denim brand Outland continues to reap the benefit of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s endorsement last year, with the label opening a new facility in Cambodia.

The brand, which was started by James Bartle in 2011 and works with Cambodian women rescued from human trafficking, has opened a finishing facility which will take their business to the next level.

“Our new 2200sq m facility brings with it greater control over our environmental footprint, and also the space and resources to continuously improve on our current techniques,” Bartle said.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrives with Prince Harry in Dubbo in 2018, wearing the Outland denim jeans. Picture: Toby Zerna

Meghan Markle endorsed the Outland Denim after wearing them in Dubbo during her Australian visit. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We are able to offer more and diverse employment options to people of vulnerable backgrounds, and offer customers the denim cuts and washes they love made in a way that they can feel good about.”

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The Duchess’ nod of approval, which came during her 2018 Australian tour, has taken Outland from little known local label to fully fledged denim brand.

“Meghan Markle’s support, and the support of the public following, has certainly fast-tracked our growth and been the instigator in opportunities we could only have dreamt of a year ago,” Bartle said.

James and Erica Bartle at Outland Denim headquarters in Mt Tamborine. Picture by Luke Marsden.

“Thanks to the ‘Markle Effect’, (we could) employ a further 46 seamstresses in our Cambodian production house.

“You cannot put a price on the brand recognition nor the credibility that the Duchess is able to bestow on a small, socially oriented enterprise such as ours.”

Originally published as ‘Meghan Markle Effect’ helps Aussie denim brand expansion