About us

I’m Ella Bartoshewski, the founder of Lily & Lynn Co.

I’m a 21-year-old hairstylist from Calgary, Alberta, with a lifelong dream of creating something meaningful of my own. For years, I didn’t know exactly what that dream would look like, what it would be, or when. Only that one day I wanted to build a brand with purpose, heart, and a story behind it.

I’ve been incredibly blessed with a loving family, supportive friendships, and experiences that one can dream of. But life has a way of reminding us how fragile and precious it truly is. People often say that everything can change in the blink of an eye and you don’t fully understand that until it happens to you.

What I didn’t know at the time was that the inspiration for this brand would come through one of the hardest seasons of my life. 

In 2024, my family experienced a devastating loss when my Uncle Aaron unexpectedly passed away. He became extremely ill after being diagnosed with a severe case of diverticulitis. The year leading up he was faced with surgeries, complications, infections, and unimaginable physical suffering. He underwent surgery that resulted in an ostomy bag, lost over 100 pounds, and spent the next year fighting simply to regain his health and quality of life.

What was supposed to be a routine surgery turned into the unimaginable. My Uncle went septic from a bowl irruption, and in a blink of an eye, my dad lost his brother who was the last remaining member of his immediate family. My aunt lost the love of her life, my cousins lost their father, and my sister and I lost the best Uncle a girl could ask for.

Grief changes people. Loss and tragedy are a part of life, but no one experiences them the same way. It affects everyone differently, and some people learn to carry it through life more easily than others.

It changed the way I viewed life, time, my relationships, and purpose. It made me realize how important it is not to wait for “one day” and to pursue the visions God placed in my mind. The remainder of that year was heavy, and alongside other challenges, I made the decision to take a three-month leave of absence from work. During that time, I began slowing down and appreciating the small moments. Conversations around the kitchen, laughter with friends, family dinners, quiet mornings, and the people who make life meaningful.

During that season, one phrase kept repeating in my mind:
“Now what?”

Two simple words, but incredibly powerful ones. A phrase often said by Jessica Janzen, the mom I used to nanny for. Someone God truly blessed me with in my life. She became not only one of my greatest inspirations, but someone who turned into family.

Yes, life can break you. Yes, terrible things happen. But eventually, you have to decide what you’re going to do with the time you’ve been given. For me, the answer became clear, I was going to chase every dream no matter how unrealistic or simple they seemed.

That’s where Lily & Lynn Co. began.

This company is deeply personal to me because the name itself represents the people who shaped my life and inspired me to take this leap.

“Lily” was inspired by the grandmother of one of my best friends, Jessica Lagler, someone who is the true human form of sunshine. Someone who has supported every crazy thought without a doubt in her mind that I could achieve it. 

“Lynn” comes from the middle names shared by the two women I admire most — my mom and my sister. They are my greatest role models, my biggest cheerleaders and I hope they realize that one of my biggest goals in this life is to grown up to be like them.

“Aaron Michael” Honours my Uncle — someone who left this earth far too soon, but whose spirit will continue to live on through every Ukrainian tradition, family guitar jam session, Roughriders game, and the countless stories we’ll continue sharing at every family gathering.

My hope is that Lily & Lynn Co. becomes more than just a brand. I hope it inspires people to slow down, appreciate life, chase the ideas placed on their hearts, and remember that even the smallest moments matter.

Because at the end of the day, life moves too quickly and how we choose to live it is entirely up to us.

Welcome to Lily & Lynn Co.
I'm so happy you’re here.