Tiko Ledua is making strides with her upcycling business, Ledua’s Art Collection. With 15 years of experience in painting and decorating, she merges her artistic skills with her commitment to sustainability, transforming waste into creative and functional items.
Ms. Ledua has successfully established her business from the ground up, even designing her own website to showcase her distinctive products. A typical day for her involves juggling motherhood and managing her home-based enterprise. “Being a mother comes first,” she shares, describing her days as a blend of caring for her toddler and creating new masterpieces.
Her artistic journey began long before her formal education. “I was always fascinated by the wonders of colours and their effect on our everyday life,” she recalls. This passion evolved from coordinating outfits as a child to mastering colour in her professional work.
The concept of upcycling emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when she and her husband began picking discarded materials from the roadside in Raiwaqa, including old tires and baby cots. “We started creating art and household items using waste as our raw materials,” Ms. Ledua explains.
Transforming her skills into a commercial venture has been challenging. Despite skepticism about her use of waste materials, her determination drives her forward. She believes in the importance of networking, stating, “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Ledua has ambitious plans to open an upcycling centre to empower women upcyclers, providing a showroom and a creative space. Her goal is to foster a supportive community that positively impacts the environment.
Recently, she conducted a successful workshop as part of an Outbound Fellows program sponsored by the Department of State, where potential trainers were identified in Fiji’s western and northern regions. “We were able to identify six potential trainers,” she expressed proudly.
To expand her business, Ms. Ledua embraced technology by participating in a website-building workshop sponsored by Business Assistance Fiji. This initiative has proved fruitful, enabling her to effectively communicate her mission and streamline operations.
Ms. Ledua advocates for repurposing household waste. “Learn to educate yourselves in how to repurpose household wastes in reducing and minimising waste from ending up in the landfill,” she encourages. Her journey demonstrates that creativity, passion, and perseverance can transform even the most unexpected materials into something beautiful and worthwhile, inspiring others to contribute to a more sustainable world.