Curiosity and motivation have been the guiding principles for Tarusila Mei, a 40-year-old market vendor who has been in the trade for over a decade. These principles have not only taught her valuable life lessons but have also sparked a new talent within her.
Ms. Mei has channeled her time into learning how to create one of Fiji’s favorite accessories: the salusalu. This journey began in 2018 when she found herself fascinated by watching her friends craft colorful and creative pieces.
“My salusalu business started around 2018,” she shared. “I would sit and watch other women making salusalu to sell. This boosted my curiosity, and they encouraged me to try as well. They told me that all I needed was the willingness to start, and thus began my journey. It’s time-consuming, but it’s also a fun experience.”
The pivotal moment was when she crafted salusalu for two of her children on their graduation day. The pride she felt seeing them adorned in her handmade pieces, especially as her second daughter received a progressive prize and her younger child came first in class, fueled her passion to create even more.
Since then, the response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, prompting Ms. Mei to ensure her designs meet their expectations. She also manages a vegetable stall initiated by her mother-in-law years ago, supported by her brother-in-law who provides fresh produce from his land in Narara.
“My daily routine begins at around 4 am when I have my devotion before preparing my children’s lunches,” she explained. “Some days are fruitful in business, while others are not. If I run out of certain produce, I buy from middlemen.”
In her free time, Ms. Mei enjoys listening to gospel music and is focused on expanding her business in the next five years. Her advice to women pursuing a successful life is to overlook gender barriers.
“If you are willing, just do it,” she encourages.