TJ Cowlishaw’s family kinship lies with Nyikina people and paternal connections are with Bardi and Nyul Nyul people on the Dampier Peninsular, WA. (Grandmother’s ancestry - Family name: Hunter). She is also descended from the Chinese Pirates of Shanghai (Grandfather’s ancestry - Family name: Jan).

The naming of the brand AARLI was influenced by her grandmother - Rosemarie (Hunter) Jan.

My mother, Sarina Jan said “Teagan always had an interest in fashion from an early age. From playing dress up in my vintage clothes to modelling with the community kids when I was coordinating fashion events with iconic designers such Linda Jackson + Lenore Dempski...I was always getting Teagan involved, cause I knew that she was going to be working in the fashion industry one day”

TJ has a Visual Artist + Events Management background. As a First Nations designer , her passion for first nations

fashion has continued to inspire, motivate and influence her as a designer and brand’s aesthetics.

Follow AARLI: @aarlifashion