The 15 Percentage Pledge was the headline focus of last weekend’s gala in Los Angeles where Meghan Markle looked fabulous at the 15 Percentage Pledge Gala. This organization started with a simple, tough ask that reflects a gap between economic participation and visibility in the retail world. The idea is that Black people make up around 15 percent of the U.S. population, yet their brands often get far less presence on the shelves of major retailers.
The 15 Percentage Pledge calls on companies to commit at least 15 percent of their shelf space, spend, and merchandising to Black-owned brands. That goal isn’t symbolic alone. It challenges corporations to shift billions of dollars in revenue toward founders who historically lack the networks or capital others take for granted. In the years since it began, more than 35 retail partners have signed on, helping redirect nearly fourteen billion dollars in commerce to Black-owned businesses and opening doors that were once tightly shut.
When Meghan arrived at the gala, she didn’t just walk the carpet. She presented a look that spoke to nuance and polish. Her gown was a custom creation by Harbison Studio, a Black-owned fashion house whose work fits the event’s theme of recognizing and uplifting designers often overlooked by mainstream fashion. The strapless silhouette was an oyster hue trimmed with black piping that formed a subtle sweetheart neckline.
A dramatic black velvet and silk shawl trailed behind her like a quiet wave, giving the outfit weight without distraction. She paired the gown with black Stuart Weitzman sandals that peeked out beneath the hem and chose vintage onyx and diamond earrings that glinted without screaming for attention. Meghan’s hair was pulled into a sleek chignon and her makeup stayed soft with a smoky eye and glossy lips. The entire look had a classic Hollywood feel that balanced heritage with the present moment.
Walking into that room without Prince Harry and choosing to attend on her own underscored that this was her night to celebrate others. It was more than fashion; it was presence in service of purpose. Everyone there felt that. Hosts and attendees alike talked about the reason for gathering, not just the glamour.
Many brands and personalities at the gala reflected the mission of the 15 Percentage Pledge. Celebrities came to show solidarity with an initiative built on equity and economic opportunity, and they wore that solidarity on their sleeves.
Kelly Rowland was one of the standout figures on the green carpet, embodying refined poise in a sleek silhouette that played with texture and structure. Her gown may have appeared understated at first glance, but every fold and finish suggested intention.
Keke Palmer chose a bold cut that blended contemporary tailoring with a classic neckline that felt fresh without being loud. Emma Grede, chairwoman of the 15 Percentage Pledge and host of the gala, stepped out in a clean, strong look that reflected leadership rather than spectacle. Founder and brain behind the 15 Percentage Pledge, Aurora James, leaned towards vintage fits, echoing a deeper sense of fashion history.
Tina Knowles, who was honored on the night looked flawless in a strapless black gown highlighted with gold details. Her look was unforgettable, not just for colour or cut, but for how it felt like a celebration of a life spent uplifting others. Ayra Starr brought the ‘it girl’ styling in a beautiful all-over feathered white halter gown. This look was both stunning and attention-grabbing.
Olandria Carthen looked dashingly sparkly in a sunset fully beaded House of Marvee gown. Ryan Destiny’s architectural two-piece in white created clean, striking lines that balanced out the evening’s spectrum of silhouettes. Danessa Myricks chose a fuchsia design that stole glances with its bright optimism, and many more attendees wore designs by Black creators that emphasized both style and significance.
What made this gala feel different from a typical awards ceremony was how the fashion reflected mission. No one was just dressed up for a pretty photo. The clothes told stories about who made them, why those makers were there, and what they stood for.
You saw that in the Tamara Adeola piece worn by Ayra Starr, in the sculptural dress on Chlöe Bailey that played with light and shadow, and in the tailored elegance of Emma Grede and Aurora James’s looks. There was a dialogue between what you saw on the carpet and the purpose of the night, and it wasn’t lost on anyone in attendance.
Beyond the clothes, the work of the 15 Percentage Pledge is about shifting how business is done. Black entrepreneurs face systematic barriers that make access to capital and retail shelf space harder to attain. By asking retail giants to commit a minimum of 15 percent of their inventory and spend to Black-owned brands, the Pledge creates pressure for structural change rather than surface-level diversity.
That shift matters because equity in commerce ripples into communities, enabling more job creation, visibility, and generational opportunity. In a landscape where funding for Black founders dropped sharply in recent years, efforts like this take on extra urgency.
Talking about Meghan Markle’s look at that gala isn’t just about fabric and fit. Her choice of Harbison Studio and her polished, understated glamour reflected what many long to see in fashion today: considered choices that amplify others instead of overshadowing them.
Her presence with peers like Kelly Rowland, Keke Palmer, Tina Knowles, Danessa Myricks, Ayra Starr, and more created a moment where celebrity met purpose in a real way. Critics might always have opinions about fit or detail, but choosing to be there, supporting the mission, shifted the focus to why a night like this matters in the first place.
By the end of the evening, conversations weren’t just about who wore what. They were about how economic power can be more evenly distributed, how retail presence can speak to community needs, and how visibility on a shelf can translate into opportunity for a brand that’s been waiting for its moment.
That blend of style and substance is exactly what made Meghan Markle looks fabulous at the 15 Percentage Pledge Gala where the cause behind appearances was as important as the looks themselves, anchored in the mission of the 15 Percentage Pledge.
