Whether you are involved in the study and science of mold, or in the world of fashion, you have probably heard of Karen Noseff. With no experience and no money, the Dallas Texan achieved critical and commercial success with Fortune Denim, a jeans company whose clientele includes Drew Berrymore, Eva Longoria, and Fergi. Karen has also gone on to write, record, and produce her own albums.
But this former law student did not always have the passion and dedication to make her dreams a reality. It took a life-threatening illness for Karen to develop a new perspective on life where, as long as you have your health, You can do anything with hard work and persistence. This illness was exposure to toxic black mold that harmed and nearly killed her.
It started during law school, when Karen moved into an apartment that was infested with black mold. Within months, the mold destroyed Karen’s health. She developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, an excruciating rash that covered 50% of her body, and was in physical pain every waking moment. Karen had to take a medical leave from law school.
For six months, Karen was bedridden. But the worst part of the illness – as it usually is for similar mold victims – is that no one believed her. Doctors would misdiagnose her symptoms. Others would ignore the causes. Even her friends and family believed the sickness was just all in her head. For the most part, Karen was alone. She ended up losing her possessions, her friends, her entire life – all because of mold.
For three years, Karen worked to recover from her illness. This gave her time to contemplate a new perspective on life. If she was given the chance to recover, she would start living life to the fullest, follow her own dreams, and start living for herself regardless of what others thought of her.
When Karen finally regained her health, she stopped going to law school – to the dismay of her family. Instead, she turned her attention to her true passions and began building a fashion line. With no fashion background, no money, and no connections Karen created Fortune Denim, which now generates $2 million a year. She was listed by D Magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful women in Dallas and was recently just presented with an award by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the “Top 25 Women to Watch.”
Karen Noseff says that her experience with mold the best thing that ever happened to her because it made her fearless. It made her live life to the fullest and set out to make her dreams a reality.
Karen Noseff will be featured in the upcoming documentary “Black Mold Exposure.” You can check the film’s website for premiere dates and locations.
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