Tiko Ledua is advancing her innovative 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 distinctive enterprise that transforms waste into artistic and functional items.
She has not only established her business from the ground up but has also designed her website to highlight her unique offerings.
A typical day for Ms. Ledua involves balancing her responsibilities as a mother with managing her home-based business. Her schedule is filled with activities, from caring for her toddler to crafting her next artistic creation. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she explained.
Ms. Ledua’s passion for art grew long before her formal studies. She recalled, “Before studying painting and decorating in 2009, I was always fascinated by the wonders of colors and their effect on our everyday life.” This early fascination with color has influenced her life, from coordinating outfits as a child to mastering color schemes in her professional endeavors.
The inspiration to integrate upcycling into her art came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in Raiwaqa, she and her husband began to collect discarded materials, such as old tires, baby cots, and cardboard, from the roadside. “We began our new journey of upcycling from literally picking whatever waste we could find,” Ms. Ledua noted. They started creating art and household items using these materials.
Launching her business has not been without its challenges. “It was never easy and it still isn’t!” she remarked. Strongly believing in the power of networking, she stated, “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.” Despite facing skepticism for her use of waste materials, her determination and enthusiasm have propelled her forward.
Ms. Ledua has set ambitious goals for her business, including plans to open an upcycling center that will offer a platform for women upcyclers. This center aims to be a place of empowerment, a showroom, and a creative space for art. She envisions fostering a supportive community where women can thrive and make a positive environmental impact.
Recently, Ms. Ledua hosted a successful workshop as part of an Outbound Fellows program sponsored by the Department of State through the East West Centre. The workshop aimed to identify potential trainers in western and northern Fiji, yielding impressive results, with six potential trainers identified.
To grow her enterprise, Ms. Ledua recognized the necessity of establishing a steady revenue-generating process and effectively communicating her mission to customers. This understanding led her to attend a website-building workshop funded by Business Assistance Fiji, where she developed a website for her business. She described the website workshop as “very productive and efficient,” emphasizing that the website is now a vital aspect of her business operations.
Ms. Ledua urges others to learn about repurposing household waste. “Learn to educate yourselves in how to repurpose household wastes in reducing and minimizing waste from ending up in the landfill,” she advised, emphasizing the potential for change. Her journey exemplifies how creativity, passion, and determination can transform even the most unexpected materials into beautiful, useful creations. She stands as an inspiration, illustrating that with a bit of imagination, anyone can contribute to a more sustainable world.