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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Helen Bennicke

Meghan Markle returns from maternity leave and launches new fashion range

Meghan Markle has returned from maternity leave following the birth of her son, Archie, with a clothing range launch.

She teamed up with retailers including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Jigsaw and designer Misha Nonoo to create the Smart Works Capsule Collection, which launched in London on Thursday.

The proceeds will go to charity to help women who are not in work succeed at interviews with stylish clothing.

The collection features a bag, dress, white shirt and suit and is available in sizes 6 to 24.

The Duchess launched the Smart Works collection in London, created in aid of charity (PA)

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Launching the collection, she said: "Since moving to the UK, it has been deeply important to me to meet with communities and organisations on the ground doing meaningful work and to try to do whatever I can to help them amplify their impact.

"In convening several companies rather than one, we've demonstrated how we can work collectively to empower each other - another layer to this communal success story, that I am so proud to be a part of."

The Duchess was carrying out her first solo engagement since the birth of her son, Archie (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

She described how to her, community is "going through your closet and saying, 'This is the blazer I wore when I nailed my first job interview and got my dream job, and I don't need that any more because I'm where I want to be'.

"But if I'm able to share that blazer and be part of another woman's success story - then that's community."

The proceeds will go towards Smart Works, a charity which provides training and interview clothes for women in need, who are not in work (PA)

And she wanted to pick "traditional and quintessential British brands" that would resonate with Smart Works' clients and so chose John Lewis and M&S, and was drawn to Jigsaw because of an advertising campaign it launched that celebrated Britain's diversity.

The Smart Works clothing has been developed by designers and Meghan Markle (Handout)

It was the 38-year-old's first official engagement since giving birth to baby son Archie, four months ago, on May 6th.

The Duchess accessorised her outfit with the Princess of Wales' old bracelet and butterfly earrings.

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