✹ MEET KAREN ARTHUR ✹
Karen’s story is one of strength, embracing change and reaching one’s true potential. Originally of Barbadian heritage, Karen grew up in a small town in Oxfordshire; being the only Black girl in her entire school, Karen was no stranger to adversity. As a teen her mother passed on her love of sewing; sitting at the kitchen table learning the mechanics of her sewing machine and visiting the haberdashery together to choose her favourite fabric was Karen’s first source of creative freedom, something that stayed with her throughout her adult life.
Karen’s journey led her to study Performing Arts and later to train as a teacher, before moving to London to start her teaching career. After 17 years teaching dance full time, an injury forced her pivot into textiles and then the pastoral field, eventually settling in a boy’s secondary school in where she would spend 12 years as a Head of House. Dancing was a passion and teaching was a constant, but her love for sewing and fashion never left.
Karen has been vocal about how the pivotal moment that forced her to quit teaching and heal the parts of herself she had lost over the years. The strain of teaching, empty nest syndrome forced her to leave her profession after 28 years in the field, and when the onset of the menopause and its many symptoms brought with it a diagnosis of anxiety and depression, she realised something had to change. After a long and difficult journey inwards, she emerged not only happier and healthier, but with a story to share and a mission to follow. Karen took a leap of faith to honour her first love of sewing and fashion by launching a bespoke clothing service that aimed to empower women in their bodies with clothing that made them feel good and stand taller.
Whilst no longer currently designing for clients, Karen has since garnered a list of creative accolades, including stylist, sewing tutor, workshop leader, model, live event host, and panelist.
Karen’s willingness to be bold and take up space has also led her to adventures in the public art world, creating timeless textile arts for Sky Arts and the Migration Museum, exploring themes of Black history and her proud connection to Caribbean culture. She founded the Wear Your Happy® movement and is a vocal advocate of the positive links between conscious clothing choices and positive mental wellbeing. Her recent Artwork ‘There are Black people in the future’ was featured in Playing the Race Card ‘Black Joy’ exhibition. Karen has also been modeled, appearing in nationwide campaigns for brands such as Specsavers and E45, as well as gracing the covers of Superdrug’s The EDIT and over-40’s magazine GOLDIE.
Karen regularly speaks on the topics of fashion, creativity, menopause and mental wellbeing. She has been featured in Vogue, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Times Radio, Channel 4, BBC Radio London, as well as in campaigns for Boots and Estee Lauder. In 2019, fashion powerhouse mother and daughter duo StylelikeU profiled Karen for their “Getting Dressed” series, where she speaks candidly and honestly about her experience with depression during menopause.
Karen refuses to become invisible post-menopause and has folded her experience into her work as an advocate for diversity within the menopause conversation, as well as a commitment to raising awareness and education on women’s health, empowering Black women all over the UK to find their voice.
Karen launched Menopause Whilst Black – a platform committed to sharing real and unfiltered stories of Black menopausal women based in the UK in 2020. Now seven seasons deep, Menopause Whilst Black is the first podcast of its kind.
In 2023 Karen founded The Joy Retreat Barbados, the world's first wellness retreat created for Black people in any stage of menopause.
Karen continues to research and champion menopause stories, placing Black British women front and centre and advocating for equity in this space.