London: A family-run vintage clothing business, sharing its name with Meghan Markle’s newly rebranded lifestyle brand ‘As Ever’, clarifies its independence from the Duchess’s operation, acknowledging a surge of support and concern from patrons following the announcement and highlighting their unique offerings.
A family-run vintage clothing brand, sharing its name with Meghan Markle’s newly renamed lifestyle brand, has publicly addressed the recent developments. The Duchess of Sussex announced this week that her brand, previously called American Riviera Orchard, will now be known as As Ever, with its operations to be managed by Netflix.
In the wake of this announcement, critics noted the similarity between the logo of As Ever and the flag of a Spanish town, as well as the existence of a small business in New York that operates under the same name. The vintage clothing brand, owned by couple Mark Kolski and Astrid Dahl, took to social media to express their gratitude to supporters and clarify that they are not connected to Markle’s brand.
In a heartfelt message posted online, the couple said, “Wow and Hello.” They expressed thanks to long-time patrons, acknowledging a surge of support and concern in light of the recent news about their namesake brand. The post continued, “We are aware. We are not affiliated,” emphasising their independence as a business.
Kolski and Dahl detailed that their brand, established in 2015 and officially launched in 2017, offers ‘restructured vintage, small quantity pieces and unique one-of-a-kinds.’ They expressed appreciation for their clients from around the country and beyond, stating, “We are grateful for all the customers coast to coast and worldwide that have supported our venture.
On Tuesday, Meghan Markle shared a video announcing the name change, explaining the significance of “As Ever.” She said, “As Ever essentially means as it’s always been, and if you’ve followed me since 2014 with The Tig, you know, I’ve always loved cooking and crafting and gardening.” Markle conveyed her enthusiasm for being able to share her creative pursuits with the public again, remarking, “This is what I do, and I haven’t been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years but now I can.”
The developments around Markle’s brand and the existing clothing business in New York have sparked conversation and analysis, highlighting the intersection of celebrity branding and small businesses in the marketplace.
Source: Noah Wire Services
