Tiko Ledua is making strides with her innovative upcycling venture, Ledua’s Art Collection. With a 15-year background in painting and decorating, Ms. Ledua has successfully fused her artistic expertise with her commitment to sustainability, transforming waste materials into creative and functional art pieces.
She has not only built her business from scratch but has also designed and developed her own website to showcase her distinctive products.
In her busy life, Ms. Ledua balances motherhood and her home-based business. “Being a mother comes first,” she stated, explaining that her daily routine involves caring for her toddler while crafting her next creative piece. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she added.
Ms. Ledua’s artistic journey commenced well before her formal studies in 2009. She has always been captivated by colors and their significance in daily life, an interest that evolved from coordinating outfits as a child to excelling in color application professionally.
The concept of upcycling emerged for Ms. Ledua during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in Raiwaqa, she and her husband, who has a background in building and joinery, started collecting discarded materials from the side of the road. “We began our upcycling journey by picking up whatever waste we could find, such as old tires, baby cots, and cardboard,” she explained. “From here we started creating art and household items using waste as our raw materials.”
Converting her skills into a business has not been without challenges. Ms. Ledua remarked, “It was never easy and it still isn’t!” She strongly believes in the power of networking, stating that “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.” Despite skepticism regarding her use of discarded materials, her dedication and enthusiasm have propelled her forward.
Looking ahead, Ms. Ledua has ambitious plans for her business. She aims to open an upcycling center to empower women involved in upcycling, creating a platform that serves as a showroom and safe space for artistic creation. Her vision is to foster a supportive community where women can flourish and make a positive environmental impact.
Recently, Ms. Ledua successfully conducted a workshop as part of an Outbound Fellows program sponsored by the Department of State through the East West Centre. This workshop focused on identifying potential trainers in Fiji’s western and northern regions and proved to be fruitful, with six potential trainers identified.
To grow her business, Ms. Ledua recognized the importance of a consistent revenue stream and effective communication with customers. This realization led her to attend a website-building workshop sponsored by Business Assistance Fiji. She found the experience to be “very productive and efficient,” and the resultant website has become a vital component of her business operations.
Ms. Ledua encourages others to learn how to repurpose household waste to help reduce landfill contributions. “Educate yourselves on how to repurpose household wastes,” she advised. “There’s so much to do, Fiji!”
She exemplifies how creativity, passion, and determination can transform the most unlikely materials into beautiful and functional creations, inspiring others that with a bit of imagination, everyone can contribute to a more sustainable world.