Tiko Ledua is making strides with her innovative upcycling venture, Ledua’s Art Collection. With 15 years of experience in painting and decorating, she merges her artistic skills with her dedication to sustainability, creating a business that turns waste into creative and functional items.
Not only has she built her enterprise from scratch, but she has also designed and developed a website to exhibit her distinctive offerings.
“Being a mother comes first,” Ms. Ledua stated, sharing that her daily routine is a blend of motherhood and managing her home-based business. Her days are filled with activities, from caring for her young child to crafting her next creation. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she mentioned.
Ms. Ledua’s artistic journey began well 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 reflected. This early interest evolved from coordinating outfits as a child to mastering colour theory in her career.
The concept of incorporating upcycling into her art emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in Raiwaqa, she and her husband, who has expertise in building and joinery, began collecting discarded items from the roadside. “We started our journey of upcycling by picking up whatever waste we could find, like old tires, baby cots, and cardboard,” Ms. Ledua recounted. They then transformed these items into art and homewares using waste as their primary resource.
Establishing her business proved to be a significant challenge. “It was never easy, and it still isn’t!” she expressed. Ms. Ledua emphasizes the importance of networking for success, stating, “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.” Despite facing skepticism for her unconventional use of waste materials, her determination and passion have propelled her forward.
Looking ahead, Ms. Ledua has ambitious plans for her enterprise. “We are working and planning on opening an upcycling center where we provide a platform for women upcyclers,” she revealed. This center will be a space for empowerment, a showroom, and a creative haven, aiming to foster a nurturing community where women can succeed and make a positive environmental impact.
Recently, Ms. Ledua held a successful workshop as part of the Outbound Fellows programme sponsored by the Department of State through the East-West Centre. The workshop aimed at identifying potential trainers in Fiji’s western and northern regions, yielding promising results. “We were able to identify six potential trainers,” she stated proudly.
To grow her business, Ms. Ledua understood the necessity of establishing a consistent revenue stream and effectively communicating her mission to customers. Attending a website-building workshop funded by Business Assistance Fiji, she successfully created a website that has become a vital component of her business operations. “The website workshop and website-building process were very productive and efficient,” she noted.
Ms. Ledua encourages everyone to learn about repurposing household waste. “Educate yourselves on how to repurpose household wastes to reduce and minimize waste from ending up in landfills,” she advised. “There’s so much to do, Fiji!” Her journey serves as a testament to how creativity, passion, and determination can transform even the most unexpected materials into beautiful and practical items, inspiring others to contribute to a more sustainable future.