Tiko Ledua is making strides with her innovative upcycling venture, Ledua’s Art Collection. With 15 years of experience in painting and decorating, Ms. Ledua combines her expertise with a commitment to sustainability, transforming waste into creative and functional items.
She has built her business from scratch and personally designed her website to display her unique creations.
“Being a mother comes first,” she said, emphasizing the balance between motherhood and running her home-based business. From caring for her toddler to crafting her next work of art, Ms. Ledua’s daily routine is busy and fulfilling. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she added.
Ms. Ledua’s passion for art began before she pursued formal studies in painting and decorating back in 2009. She has always been intrigued by the beauty of colors and their impact on daily life, a fascination that evolved from coordinating outfits as a child to mastering color schemes professionally.
The concept of upcycling in her art emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residing in Raiwaqa, she and her husband, who has experience in construction and joinery, started gathering discarded materials from their surroundings. “We began our new journey of upcycling from literally picking whatever waste we could find, like old tires, baby cots, and cardboard,” she said. “From here we started creating art and housewares using waste as our raw materials.”
Transforming her skills into a business presented its challenges. “It was never easy and it still isn’t!” she remarked. Ms. Ledua believes in the importance of networking, noting, “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.” Despite facing doubt and ridicule for using waste materials, her determination and passion have driven her forward.
Looking ahead, Ms. Ledua has ambitious plans for her business, including the development of an upcycling center to empower women in the field. This center will serve as a showroom, a creative space, and a supportive community for women to thrive and make a positive environmental impact.
Recently, Ms. Ledua successfully hosted a workshop as part of an Outbound Fellows program sponsored by the Department of State through the East West Centre. The workshop aimed to find potential trainers in the western and northern regions of Fiji, resulting in the identification of six promising candidates.
To enhance her business operations, Ms. Ledua recognized the necessity for a sustainable revenue model and effective communication of her mission to customers. Consequently, she participated in a website-building workshop supported by Business Assistance Fiji, which proved to be both productive and efficient. Her website now plays a vital role in her business.
Ms. Ledua also advocates for everyone to learn about repurposing household waste. “Educate yourselves in how to repurpose household wastes to reduce landfill contributions,” 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. Ms. Ledua serves as an inspiration, showing that with a touch of imagination, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.