Are Meghan Markle’s As Ever products made in China?
Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand As Ever has drawn attention for its domestic production footprint rather than overseas sourcing. Early items including spreads, teas, and honey come from a U.S. contract manufacturer in Illinois, and later additions such as rosé and chocolate also rely on California partners. The question of Chinese manufacturing appears to stem from trademark conflicts and speculation, not documented supply chain evidence.
Brand rebrand and reach
The line began as American Riviera Orchard and shifted to As Ever in early 2025. The change let the company expand beyond Montecito sourcing and adopt a broader roster of U.S. vendors. Netflix’s consumer-products team helped coordinate launches that sold out in minutes.
Initial products went live April 2, 2025, and included raspberry spread, herbal teas, orange-blossom honey, and edible flower sprinkles. Shipments originated from Republic of Tea fulfillment centers, prompting coverage that placed the manufacturing site roughly two thousand miles from Markle’s home.
Markle told Fortune that keeping production inside the United States helps avoid tariffs and keeps prices steady. The statement aligned with consumer interest in domestic manufacturing ahead of possible trade-policy shifts.
Illinois contract plant
Republic of Tea’s Nashville, Illinois facility produced the first wave of As Ever pantry staples. The same line already handled licensed Netflix preserves tied to Bridgerton, so the equipment and processes were already in place.
Berries for the raspberry spread were sourced from California growers, then processed in bulk at the Illinois plant. A source close to the brand noted that the recipe started in Markle’s kitchen and was scaled for commercial runs without altering core ingredients.
Retail pricing drew comparisons; As Ever jars cost more than Republic of Tea’s own branded preserves on the same shelves. The markup reflects licensing, marketing overhead, and the direct-to-consumer model rather than offshore labor savings.
Trademark dispute unrelated
A Chinese clothing company registered the name ASEVER in Shenzhen, blocking As Ever from selling apparel in certain markets. That legal clash fueled online chatter linking the brand to China, but the issue involved intellectual property, not product manufacturing.
Reporting from multiple outlets confirmed that no food, tea, or homeware items were traced to Chinese factories. Public discussion on social platforms occasionally raised the question, yet no supply-chain documents or customs records supported the claim.
The trademark standoff was resolved through legal channels without affecting the physical goods sold on the As Ever site. Consumers searching for origin details found consistent references to U.S. production sites instead.
Wine and chocolate partners
Expansion into alcohol brought As Ever rosé made in collaboration with Napa Valley estates and bottled at Kunde Family Winery. The wine program operates separately from the Illinois facility and emphasizes regional fruit.
Compartés, a Los Angeles chocolatier, supplies the brand’s confectionery items. Both partnerships keep output inside California and sidestep the contract-manufacturing questions attached to the early pantry line.
Homeware, candles, and seasonal drops also list U.S. vendors. The brand’s site states that it works with “best-in-class vendors” to maintain quality standards, though specific factory names beyond Republic of Tea remain undisclosed.
Consumer expectations vs. scale
Marketing language describes products as “inspired by the recipe Meghan crafted at home.” Critics noted the distance between that imagery and an industrial line two thousand miles away, prompting debate about authenticity in direct-to-consumer celebrity brands.
Similar contrasts appear across the celebrity food space, where small-batch storytelling meets volume requirements. As Ever’s rapid sell-outs suggest buyers prioritize perceived quality and novelty over the precise location of the kettle.
Price positioning remains premium. Observers point out that the Illinois production model still costs more than overseas alternatives, aligning with Markle’s stated goal of tariff-proof domestic output.
Supply-chain adjustments
Reports in mid-2025 indicated the Republic of Tea contract could shift as volume grows. The brand has not confirmed a new supplier, but the pattern of multiple U.S. partners suggests continued domestic sourcing.
Future drops, including an advent calendar and pet accessories, are expected to follow the same approach. The company’s Santa Barbara base keeps decision-making on the West Coast while manufacturing spreads geographically.
Buyers tracking provenance can compare batch codes and allergen statements on each jar. As Ever’s site lists country-of-origin details for each SKU, a step that exceeds many lifestyle labels.
Social conversation snapshot
Posts on X questioned the gap between Montecito imagery and Illinois output, yet few cited evidence of foreign production. Most threads focused on pricing, sell-out speed, and comparisons with grocery-store preserves.
Influencer unboxings emphasized taste and packaging rather than factory location. The absence of viral exposés about overseas labor kept the China question contained to niche threads and tabloid headlines.
Trade-policy watchers noted that domestic manufacturing could shield As Ever from tariff swings, an angle Markle highlighted in her Fortune remarks. That framing resonated with shoppers wary of import costs.
Market placement now
As Ever occupies a middle tier: higher than mass-market jams, lower than ultra-small-batch preserves from chefs with restaurant followings. The Illinois plant’s capacity supports wider distribution if the brand pursues retail shelves.
Netflix’s continued involvement signals sustained marketing support. Future seasons of With Love, Meghan could spotlight new products and reinforce the domestic supply narrative.
Seasonal releases, such as holiday blends or limited rosé vintages, give the line fresh entry points without altering the core production map.
Next steps for buyers
Shoppers focused on origin can verify current suppliers on each product page before checkout. As Ever’s U.S.-only shipping policy further narrows the supply chain to domestic partners.
Should new vendors appear, updated country-of-origin labeling will remain the quickest check. Absent documented shifts, the record shows As Ever products are made in the United States, not China.
