Meghan Markle Reflects on Her Scrunchie-Making Business When She Was 11

Meghan Markle’s Entrepreneurial Roots: From Scrunchies to Lifestyle Brand As Ever

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and founder of the lifestyle brand As Ever, has a long history with business, dating back to her childhood. In a recent interview, the 43-year-old entrepreneur recounted her initial venture into the world of commerce at the age of 11, which involved crafting scrunchies from fabric remnants. This early ingenuity foreshadowed her current success with her newly launched lifestyle brand, As Ever, demonstrating a lifelong connection to entrepreneurial pursuits.

Early Business Ventures

“I would purchase fabric scraps from the local fabric shop and elastic bands. Then, using my home sewing machine, I would create scrunchies to sell,” Markle disclosed in an interview with Fortune, released on Tuesday, April 8.

She fondly remembered these formative experiences, highlighting her nascent business acumen. This initial foray into sales provided invaluable early lessons in entrepreneurship and resourcefulness.

Markle elaborated on these early endeavors during a 2021 appearance at The New York Times DealBook Online Summit, further detailing her childhood business.

“I recall when I was very young, around 8 or 9 years old, I began crafting scrunchies to sell. I would have my mother take me downtown to acquire fabric remnants from fabric stores and then sell the scrunchies for five dollars,” Markle recounted.

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Markle remembered feeling a sense of accomplishment even at that young age.

“I remember the feeling of knowing I had accomplished something independently,” she stated during the event, which focused on women achieving economic and professional equality. “I had invested in my own initiative, put in the work, and received compensation for it. This instilled a sense of pride,” she explained.

Launch of As Ever

Currently in her 40s, Meghan Markle has recently introduced her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The inaugural product line, featuring her signature raspberry jam, rapidly sold out within an hour of its launch earlier this month. She mentioned to Fortune that most items are priced under $20, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to accessibility, even with future expansions.

This is not the first instance of Meghan Markle discussing her early entrepreneurial spirit. During a 2021 appearance at The New York Times DealBook Online Summit, she elaborated on the specifics of her initial business endeavor.

Passing on Business Acumen to Princess Lilibet

Currently, Meghan Markle is passing on her business acumen to her daughter, Princess Lilibet, age 3.

In the inaugural episode of her new podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” launched on Tuesday, Markle disclosed that she typically works from her home office and frequently includes her daughter in her business calls.

“Lili still takes naps and attends preschool for half days,” Markle clarified. “If she wakes up and looks for me, she knows where to find me, even if my office door is closed. She will often join me on my lap during meetings with executives, right there with us.”