Curiosity and determination have been the guiding principles for Tarusila Mei, a 40-year-old market vendor with over a decade of experience. These traits have led her to discover new skills and valuable life lessons, ultimately allowing her to create one of Fiji’s most cherished accessories, the salusalu.
Ms. Mei’s journey began around 2018 when her curiosity was piqued by watching friends craft colorful and creative salusalus. She recalled, “Sometimes I would just sit and observe other women making salusalu to sell. This not only heightened my curiosity, but the women themselves would advise that I could do it too. They told me all I needed was the willingness to do it, and so began my journey. It’s actually time-consuming, but a fun experience.”
The inspiration for her own salusalu came when she created pieces for her children’s graduation in 2018. The pride she felt seeing them wear the salusalus she made with care made the event even more special. “My second daughter won a progressive prize and my other child came first in her class. This was both a joyful and motivating time for me, and it fueled my passion to create more.”
Since then, Ms. Mei has received excellent feedback from customers, feeling responsible for crafting high-quality designs. She operates two successful businesses through hard work and resilience, including a vegetable stall originally started by her mother-in-law. “My brother-in-law supplies me with root crops and vegetables from his land. Like all businesses, some days are fruitful and some are not. If I don’t have certain produce, I usually buy from the middlemen.”
Her daily routine starts early at around 4 a.m. for her devotion, followed by preparing her children’s lunches. In her free time, she enjoys listening to gospel music. Looking ahead, Ms. Mei aims to expand her business over the next five years. Her advice to other women is to overcome gender barriers in their pursuit of success. “If you are willing, just do it,” she encourages.