Lili Murphy-Johnson’s Period Jewelry Turns Taboo Into Art

Lili Murphy-Johnson and the Art of Period Jewelry: Redefining Taboo Through Design

Do you ever feel a sense of discomfort or embarrassment talking about your period? London-based designer Lili Murphy-Johnson wants to erase that stigma—one striking piece of jewelry at a time. Her menstruation-inspired jewelry collection pushes boundaries and social norms, inviting a bold new dialogue on bodies, beauty, and the reality of being a woman.

Breaking the Taboo: Why Period Jewelry?

Periods have long been shrouded in silence and shame. Murphy-Johnson’s work sets out to change this by exploring menstrual themes through the language of adornment. Her pieces—ranging from glittering red-crystal necklaces to panty-liner rings—bring the topic of menstruation out of hiding and into direct conversation. The aim is clear: to shut down the notion that periods are offensive or unmentionable, and instead, to celebrate them as part of the beauty and complexity of womanhood.

“I’m just really interested in the way periods are seen as so taboo. When you look at the reality of it, it’s quite a strange thing to be ashamed of,” Murphy-Johnson explains. Instead of shying away, she finds inspiration and design opportunity in a subject often deemed off-limits, harnessing it to create something beautiful and empowering.

The Inspiration: Personal Experience Fueling Artistic Vision

For Murphy-Johnson, the inspiration comes from deeply personal experiences as well as a keen observation of cultural narratives around menstruation. Growing up, she noticed not only the discomfort around discussing periods but also how that discomfort often translated into feelings of shame. Her own struggles with PMS (premenstrual syndrome) became a catalyst for exploring the emotional and physical dimensions of the menstrual cycle in her art.

“It was the emotional side of periods that got me,” she says. By reflecting both the pain and irritation of PMS, as well as the physical products associated with periods, Murphy-Johnson brings the full spectrum of menstruation into her designs.

The Collection: Wearable Statements of Empowerment

The result of her exploration is a dazzling collection, meticulously crafted and divided into three thematic stages of menstruation:

• Necklaces: Symbolize hormonal fluctuations, pain, and mood swings of PMS, often using beads and chains to express tension and emotional turbulence.
• Product Accessories: Rings and charms mimic period products like tampons and pads—transformed into covetable objects that honor their practical role and question why they’re kept hidden.
• Pins and Brooches: Represent the blood itself, employing sparkling red crystals to visualize what is usually concealed, reframing the ‘offensive’ as ornamental and beautiful.

Every piece is handmade, with prices ranging from accessible $38 to luxurious items over $1,200—a deliberate choice to make this conversation starter available to a range of women.

Design Details: From Concept to Craft

Murphy-Johnson’s designs blend meticulous craftsmanship with unapologetic messaging. A charm bracelet might boast a dainty tampon, a bottle of feminine wash, and a bedazzled sanitary pad, all encrusted in beads and crystals that catch the light. The visual cues are clear—these are not meant to be hidden, but proudly displayed.

From Stigma to Statement: Turning Shame into Conversation

One of Murphy-Johnson’s primary goals is to reclaim space for conversations about periods. She hopes women wearing her jewelry feel empowered to decide when and how to talk about menstruation, refusing to let it be a source of embarrassment or something to hide. “I want them to feel like they have more control on what people know about periods. They aren’t something that happens on accident. I want this to be something that they actually choose to show, reclaim, and say, ‘Yeah, I have periods. Everyone does and this is my jewelry.’”

Challenging Social Norms: Why Are Periods Still Taboo?

Despite progress in body positivity and open discussion, periods remain stigmatized in many cultures. Murphy-Johnson identifies two core issues fueling this:

• Conditioned Discomfort: Many people internalize the idea that periods are shameful or ‘gross’ because those topics are rarely discussed openly.
• Lack of Dialogue: Without open conversations, assumptions about what is ‘appropriate’ go unchallenged and the stigma persists.

As Murphy-Johnson notes, “If you have a conversation with people, they usually end up agreeing that periods aren’t a big deal. But if you haven’t had those conversations, you just think it’s bad or wrong.” Through her wearable art, she invites people to question inherited prejudices and participate in changing the narrative.

Confronting Critics: When Art Becomes Provocation

Murphy-Johnson’s bold designs have not always been universally embraced. Early versions of her period jewelry were even removed from platforms like Etsy for being ‘inappropriate.’ She recounts how frustrating and surprising this was, as she never intended to offend, but rather to open up necessary dialogue. “Even if you didn’t like it, I didn’t think it was something that should be banned,” she says. This response only strengthened her commitment to the project, underlining society’s need to confront discomfort around natural phenomena.

Beyond Jewelry: The Role of Art in Social Change

Murphy-Johnson sees her collection as more than personal self-expression—it’s a form of activism. Art, she argues, allows people to discuss difficult or suppressed issues openly and without shame. Her jewelry becomes a catalyst for larger conversations about bodily autonomy and social expectations.

• Debunking Myths: By transforming menstrual products into art, the collection aims to challenge and correct misconceptions about periods.
• Empowering Women: Adorning oneself with period-themed jewelry can feel like a declaration of bodily pride and self-acceptance.

She hopes her work will inspire other artists and designers to tackle social taboos, whether in fashion, fine art, or beyond.

Design for All: Making the Movement Accessible

Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, Murphy-Johnson deliberately offers both experimental and wearable versions of her jewelry, with various price points. She is currently working on more accessible designs for wider audiences, hoping to see such conversation-starting jewelry in mainstream outlets—so that the normalization of periods can reach as many people as possible.

Periods in Contemporary Culture: A Moment of Change

Murphy-Johnson’s work is part of a larger social shift. In recent years, menstruation has become a topic of public discussion in politics (such as debates on the tampon tax), activism, and the media. Movements calling for period dignity and product access are gaining traction, and artists like Murphy-Johnson help fuel conversation through creativity and unapologetic visibility. The goal: normalize the experience so that no woman—or anyone who menstruates—feels compelled to hide it.

FAQs: Lili Murphy-Johnson’s Period Jewelry Explained

Q: What kinds of jewelry are in Murphy-Johnson’s period collection?

A: The collection features necklaces, bracelets, pins, brooches, and rings inspired by menstrual experiences, products, and symbols.

Q: Why did Murphy-Johnson use period imagery in her designs?

A: She uses it to challenge menstrual taboos, spark conversation, and empower people to view periods as normal and beautiful, rather than shameful.

Q: Have there been controversies or backlash?

A: Yes. Early pieces were banned on platforms like Etsy for being ‘inappropriate,’ highlighting societal discomfort with the subject—but also the need for more dialogue.

Q: Can I buy her jewelry?

A: Yes, the collection is for sale in various price ranges, with more wearable and affordable pieces currently in development.

Q: What message does her jewelry carry?

A: That periods are nothing to hide or be ashamed of; Murphy-Johnson’s pieces turn what is often concealed into proud wearable art, encouraging open conversations and body self-acceptance.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Murphy-Johnson?

Murphy-Johnson continues to innovate, planning future collections exploring other “awkward” or under-appreciated aspects of human bodies. While still in the research phase, she emphasizes her ongoing interest in using jewelry to spotlight parts of ourselves we’re taught to ignore or be ashamed of.

Her ultimate mission is clear: to turn jewelry not just into beautiful objects, but into powerful statements—empowering wearers, challenging stigma, and making the everyday realities of womanhood impossible to ignore or dismiss.

Key Takeaways

• Lili Murphy-Johnson’s jewelry collection uses period motifs to confront shame and open up conversation.
• Her pieces reflect PMS, period products, and menstrual blood in glittering form, redefining what is ‘beautiful.’
• The response to her work exposes deep-seated social taboos, but also sparks empowerment and increased dialogue.
• She hopes accessible, wearable designs will take the movement mainstream—one sparkling pad or tampon charm at a time.

Further Reading

• Explore the growing movement against period stigma and learn how artists and activists worldwide are using creativity, design, and dialogue to shift perceptions.
• Learn about menstrual equity campaigns, the fight against the tampon tax, and the rise of body positivity movements that Murphy-Johnson’s work intersects with.