	{"id":115102,"date":"2025-05-25T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/?p=115102"},"modified":"2025-05-22T16:29:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T06:29:55","slug":"aflw-stars-clothing-label-sparks-conversations-that-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/living\/aflw-stars-clothing-label-sparks-conversations-that-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"AFLW star&#8217;s clothing label sparks conversations that matter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a passion that informs her approach to sport, to people and with the launch of her own streetwear label Boxes by Bowen, to clothing.<\/p>\n<p>Born during the challenging COVID years, the brand\u2019s beginning also provided a creative spark that helped pull the football star through what she describes as a low point.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had a moment where I was sitting at my desk and I was just drawing, designing, which is interesting because that\u2019s 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI remember writing something down \u2013 it was probably relevant to how I was feeling at the time \u2013 but it was like \u2018Put me in a box, see what happens\u2019. I probably felt a little bit confined in terms of the journey I was on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_162049\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-162049\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-162049\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_2024-05-0_77233_tn.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"634\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-162049\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">First launched in 2020, Boxes comprises a range of small batch streetwear items, such as hoodies and caps, that feature subtle but meaningful designs centred around wording and motivational phrases. Photo: BOXES BY BOWEN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about being kind. It\u2019s about taking the time to listen, to understand what they feel like for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt 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\u2019s more than what I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_115178\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-115178\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-115178\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/484495592_965653802439462_4139626586898580212_n-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/484495592_965653802439462_4139626586898580212_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/484495592_965653802439462_4139626586898580212_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/484495592_965653802439462_4139626586898580212_n-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/484495592_965653802439462_4139626586898580212_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-115178\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">After playing her first three seasons with West Coast, Bowen made the shift to Geelong in mid-2022. Photo: FACEBOOK\/GEELONG CATS WOMEN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her foray into football was first driven by rebellion, a disinterest in continuing her family\u2019s relationship with ballet \u2013 a sport she \u201cdidn\u2019t want any bar of\u201d in her early years \u2013 with her first tackle cementing a deep love for the game.<\/p>\n<p>She hasn\u2019t looked back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothing hit me the way that footy did and I probably use the word \u2018hit\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe community around the game as well is just beautiful, so it just feels so holistic to me, and I wouldn\u2019t rather do any other sport.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bowen\u2019s relocation from Perth to Geelong saw Boxes by Bowen take a necessary backseat, however the label enjoyed a relaunch just 18 months ago.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been blown away with some of the conversations I\u2019ve been able to have off the back of it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30038\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30038\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30038\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/464974688_2052325615_77190.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30038\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bowen&#8217;s &#8220;Comfortably uncomfortable&#8221; design was inspired by conversations she had with her fellow Cats. Photo: INSTAGRAM\/BOXES.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It is these conversations that have inspired Bowen\u2019s intentionally subtle but meaningful designs, which centre around words and motivational phrases and continue to challenge the 24-year-old\u2019s belief that she lacks a creative side.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have no idea what I\u2019m doing. I\u2019m just trying and I\u2019m leaning into things that I love and I\u2019m probably wanting to share more of that story to encourage others to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2013 she hopes people \u201cfeel hugged by\u201d her hoodies \u2013 and a message they can relate to.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of my latest pieces was \u201cComfortably Uncomfortable\u201d, and that came off the back of me and the footy girls going through a pretty rough season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA few of the girls came together and just discussed the concept of what it\u2019s going to take and that we\u2019re going through a very big period of discomfort at the moment, but if we lean into that, what can we possibly get from that.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_115180\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-115180\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-115180\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/482249686_965013435836832_638081014347268739_n-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/482249686_965013435836832_638081014347268739_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/482249686_965013435836832_638081014347268739_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/482249686_965013435836832_638081014347268739_n-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/05\/482249686_965013435836832_638081014347268739_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-115180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bowen&#8217;s teammates have rallied behind the clothing label and can often be seen wearing her designs around the club. Photo: INSTAGRAM\/MIKAYLA BOWEN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cThe art of staying present\u201d on the horizon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just need to speak more, and I\u2019ve struggled with that myself, so if there\u2019s a small part I can play into making that easier for people, then that\u2019s where I see Boxes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, 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\u2019re going through.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For more, head to <a href=\"http:\/\/boxes-by-bowen.myshopify.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">boxes-by-bowen.myshopify.com<\/a>, or follow Bowen on Instagram <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mikaylaabowen\/\">@mikaylaabowen<\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019s 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 [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/living\/aflw-stars-clothing-label-sparks-conversations-that-matter\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":115182,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-115102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>AFLW star&#039;s clothing label sparks conversations that matter - Geelong Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"AFLW star Mikayla Bowen\u2019s label, Boxes by Bowen, sparks powerful mental health conversations through meaningful streetwear design.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/living\/aflw-stars-clothing-label-sparks-conversations-that-matter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AFLW star&#039;s clothing label sparks conversations that matter - 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