MEET FOUNDER KAREN ARTHUR
Photo by Evelyne Lynne. 2022.
Karen is a mother and a grandmother in her early sixties.
JOURNEY
Karen was raised in Oxfordshire, studied Performing Arts as a Dance Specialist in Leicester, trained as a teacher in Bedford and moved to London in the mid-eighties where she started teaching in the East End.
Karen’s Barbadian mother passed on her love of sewing when she was 15 and this passion for creativity accompanied her throughout her teaching career.
Karen taught dance full time, then headed up KS3 Performing Arts for 17 years before a foot injury led me to teaching Textiles. From there she moved across to become a Pastoral leader, finally settling at a local Boys Secondary School as a Head of House.
Karen left teaching behind after 28 years when the onset of the menopause brought with it a diagnosis of anxiety and depression which threatened to floor her. She could no longer do her job. After turning the spotlight inwards, a few years later Karen was able to move into Fashion, working exclusively with women to create beautiful bespoke clothing that made them feel good and stand tall.
Since then Karen has worked as a private stylist, textiles workshop leader, hosted live events and taught private clients to sew. Karen has created public textiles arts for Sky Arts and the Migration museum.
Photo by Rich Barr Photography 2021.
purpose
As a Black woman who refuses to become invisible post-menopause she is passionate about taking up space via vibrant fashion and public art. This unapologetic visibility helps other women, particularly those who look like Karen, to find their own voice.
Karen is a vocal advocate of the positive links between conscious clothing choices and positive mental wellbeing. She founded the Wear Your Happy® movement and encourages people, especially women, of all ages to embrace their wardrobe and dress for themselves. Her e-book ‘8 Ways to Wear Your Happy’ is a helpful guide.
currently…
PODCAST HOST.
Karen hosts Menopause Whilst Black the podcast – a platform committed to diversifying Menopause and sharing the stories of Black menopausal women based in the UK. She is currently researching menopause, placing Black British women front and centre. Now four seasons deep, this is the first podcast of its kind.
MODEL.
Karen became a model, albeit late to the proverbial game, in 2020. She has worked with Specsavers and E45 amongst others.
SPEAKER.
Karen speaks knowledgeably and passionately on a range of topics including, fashion, creativity, menopause and mental wellbeing.
She has been featured in Vogue, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Times Radio, Channel 4, Sky Arts and BBC Radio London and in campaigns by Boots and Estee Lauder.
She hosted her first in-person Wear Your Happy event with 64 Million Artists, as part of their ten year January Challenge celebrations at the beginning of 2023.
Karen is excited to be hosting The Joy Retreat Barbados, the worlds FIRST retreat created for Black people in any stage of menopause.
Stay tuned for more adventures!
Contact Karen - Work with me .
Follow on Instagram - @thekarenarthur and @menopausewhilstblack.
