Tiko Ledua is making significant strides with her upcycling business, Ledua’s Art Collection. With 15 years of experience in painting and decorating, Ms. Ledua has merged her skills with her commitment to sustainability, creating a unique business that repurposes waste into valuable art and home goods.
Beyond building her business from scratch, she also took the initiative to design and develop her own website to display her distinctive creations.
In her own words, “Being a mother comes first,” Ms. Ledua explained. She manages to balance motherhood with running her home-based business, keeping her days busy with both parenting her toddler and crafting her next artistic project. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she remarked.
Ms. Ledua’s artistic journey began long before her formal education. “Before studying painting and decorating in 2009, I was always fascinated by the wonders of colours and their effect on our everyday life,” she said, reflecting on her childhood interest in color coordination.
The concept of upcycling emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when Ms. Ledua, alongside her husband—who has a construction and joinery background—started collecting discarded materials from their community in Raiwaqa. “We began our new journey of upcycling by literally picking whatever waste we could find, like old tires, baby cots, and cardboard,” she explained. They transformed these items into art and homeware, paving the way for a sustainable approach to creativity.
Establishing her business proved challenging. “It was never easy, and it still isn’t!” Ms. Ledua admitted. She champions the importance of networking, stating, “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.” Despite facing doubt for using waste materials, her determination and enthusiasm have propelled her forward.
Looking ahead, Ms. Ledua has ambitious plans. “We are working and planning on opening an upcycling centre where we provide a platform for women upcyclers,” she shared. This center aims to empower women, serve as a showroom, and provide a safe space for creativity, fostering a community that positively impacts the environment.
Recently, Ms. Ledua conducted a successful workshop as part of an Outbound Fellows program sponsored by the Department of State through the East West Centre. The workshop focused on identifying potential trainers in Fiji’s western and northern regions, and it yielded six promising candidates.
To expand her business further, Ms. Ledua recognized the need for a sustainable revenue model and effective communication of her mission. She participated in a website-building workshop organized by Business Assistance Fiji, which proved valuable in launching her business’s online presence. “The website workshop and website-building process were very productive and efficient,” she noted, emphasizing the website’s role in her operations.
Ms. Ledua advocates for everyone to learn how to repurpose household waste. “Educate yourselves on how to repurpose household wastes in reducing and minimizing waste from ending up in the landfill,” she advised. “There’s so much to do, Fiji!”
Her journey exemplifies how creativity, passion, and perseverance can transform seemingly useless materials into something beautiful and functional. She serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with imagination, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.