AFLW star’s clothing label sparks conversations that matter

AFLW Cats player Mikayla Bowen is driven by an immense passion for mental health and resilience, one that has been shaped both by tragedy and her own strength.

It’s a passion that informs her approach to sport, to people and with the launch of her own streetwear label Boxes by Bowen, to clothing.

Born during the challenging COVID years, the brand’s beginning also provided a creative spark that helped pull the football star through what she describes as a low point.

“I had a moment where I was sitting at my desk and I was just drawing, designing, which is interesting because that’s not something I do often, but I found myself in a bit of a rut and that was what was soothing me at the time,” she said.

“I remember writing something down – it was probably relevant to how I was feeling at the time – but it was like ‘Put me in a box, see what happens’. I probably felt a little bit confined in terms of the journey I was on.”

 

 

The concept of being put in a box, she quickly realised, looks different for everyone and the brand soon transformed into a starting point for conversations with others and a pathway to understanding their experiences.

“I wanted the hoodies to be more than just hoodies. I just want to be able to connect with people and I want to understand what the boxes are for other people.

“It’s about being kind. It’s about taking the time to listen, to understand what they feel like for everyone.”

A former Eagle, the Cats winger made the shift to Geelong halfway through 2022, a challenging adjustment but one she says, despite the weather, she could not be happier with.

“It was a massive opportunity for me to get the most out of my playing career. From afar, I just loved what the Cats have been about for so long and now I find myself immersed within it. It’s more than what I expected.”

 

 

Her foray into football was first driven by rebellion, a disinterest in continuing her family’s relationship with ballet – a sport she “didn’t want any bar of” in her early years – with her first tackle cementing a deep love for the game.

She hasn’t looked back.

“Nothing hit me the way that footy did and I probably use the word ‘hit’ on purpose because I just love that side of the game. I love the physicality; to lay a tackle and to get tackled for the first time is a pretty interesting and eye-opening experience.

“The community around the game as well is just beautiful, so it just feels so holistic to me, and I wouldn’t rather do any other sport.”

Bowen’s relocation from Perth to Geelong saw Boxes by Bowen take a necessary backseat, however the label enjoyed a relaunch just 18 months ago.

“I’ve been blown away with some of the conversations I’ve been able to have off the back of it,” she said.

 

 

It is these conversations that have inspired Bowen’s intentionally subtle but meaningful designs, which centre around words and motivational phrases and continue to challenge the 24-year-old’s belief that she lacks a creative side.

“I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m just trying and I’m leaning into things that I love and I’m probably wanting to share more of that story to encourage others to do the same.”

But Bowen also recognises how hard to can be to have those conversations and hopes each item of clothing can serve as a helpful reminder piece, offering the wearer comfort – she hopes people “feel hugged by” her hoodies – and a message they can relate to.

“One of my latest pieces was “Comfortably Uncomfortable”, and that came off the back of me and the footy girls going through a pretty rough season.

“A few of the girls came together and just discussed the concept of what it’s going to take and that we’re going through a very big period of discomfort at the moment, but if we lean into that, what can we possibly get from that.

 

 

“The Geelong girls have been incredible in getting around [the brand] and I often see so many of them just wearing all of the stuff around the club, which is super special.”

Bowen is hoping to continue slowly building the business as she balances her other commitments, throwing herself into it when the time presents itself, with collaborations with other local businesses and the release of new design “The art of staying present” on the horizon.

“I don’t want to ever lose sight of why we started and why I wanted to make this a thing, which was to convey a message more so than to grow my business.

“We just need to speak more, and I’ve struggled with that myself, so if there’s a small part I can play into making that easier for people, then that’s where I see Boxes.

“Yeah, speak and yeah, cry and f*** up if you have to. Just learn from it and be kind to people, because you just never know what they’re going through.”

For more, head to boxes-by-bowen.myshopify.com, or follow Bowen on Instagram @mikaylaabowen.