Meghan Markle's burgeoning brand has been drawing comparisons to the well-established Flamingo Estate, a lifestyle brand rooted in California.
The parallels between the two ventures are striking, particularly as Meghan prepares to unveil her latest endeavor. Quietly, Meghan initiated the soft launch of her new venture, the American Riviera Orchard. This unveiling included the debut of an Instagram page, a distinctive logo, and a rustic-themed promotional video, much to the delight of her eager fans.
Meghan's dedication to this new venture is palpable, with rumors swirling about its focus on home decor items such as marmalades, jams, and an assortment of lifestyle products. Speculation also abounds regarding the possibility of a cooking show, aligning with the Sussexes' Netflix contract set to conclude in 2025.
Operating from a picturesque Tuscan-style residence in Montecito, California, Meghan's American Riviera Orchard now faces scrutiny for its remarkable parallels with another local brand, Flamingo Estate. Founded by stylist Richard Christiansen in 2010, Flamingo Estate has made a name for itself with a product line emphasizing garden-inspired pleasures and a commitment to elegance and creativity.
Endorsed by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, the brand offers luxurious items ranging from a $200 jar of Julian Moore's honey to candles favored by the Dalai Lama, along with exotic treats such as 63-pound dried strawberries dusted with chili.
Reports suggest that Meghan had visited Flamingo Estate and expressed interest in partnering with Christiansen and his boyfriend, Aaron Harvey, in business endeavors. This interest stems from Meghan's previous investment in Clever Blends in December 2020, indicating a desire to engage in similar ventures. Despite multiple in-person meetings between Meghan and the Flamingo Estate team in 2022, no formal partnership materialized. While Meghan displayed Flamingo Estate products in her home, including a stack of gardening books costing an astonishing £290, a deal was never sealed.
Questions linger regarding whether Meghan's new venture may mirror Flamingo Estate's offerings, given the apparent alignment in brand positioning. Both brands emphasize free books, with American Riviera Orchard aiming to publish content online and in book form, echoing Flamingo Estate's successful release of "Fridays from the Garden," a cookbook featuring 150 recipes. In an unexpected twist, rumors abound that Richard Christiansen is considering legal action against Meghan, alleging the mimicry of Flamingo Estate's concept.
American Riviera Orchard purportedly aims to sell nut butters, salsas, and spices, similar to Flamingo Estate's offerings of chili oil, olive oil, and salsa. Even in the realm of gardening tools, there are similarities, with Flamingo Estate selling hand-cast bronze gardening tools for a hefty price. It's not unfathomable to consider that Christiansen might harbor some discontent toward Meghan's forthcoming lifestyle brand, which appears to be encroaching on his established niche.
