Tiko Ledua is making significant strides with her innovative upcycling business, Ledua’s Art Collection. With 15 years of experience in painting and decorating, Ms. Ledua combines her artistic skills with a dedication to sustainability, transforming waste into creative and functional pieces.
She built her business from the ground up, even designing and developing her website to feature her unique offerings.
In her daily life, Ms. Ledua balances motherhood with running her home-based business. “Being a mother comes first,” she says, as her days are filled with tending to her toddler while also crafting her next artistic creation. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she adds.
Her artistic journey began long before she pursued formal education in painting and decorating in 2009. Ms. Ledua has always been fascinated by colors and their impact on daily living, which transitioned from pairing outfits as a child to mastering color coordination professionally.
The concept of integrating upcycling into her artwork emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residing in Raiwaqa, she and her husband, who has a background in construction, began collecting discarded materials from the roadside. “We started our new journey of upcycling from literally picking whatever waste we could find, like old tires, baby cots, and cardboard,” she recalls, leading them to create art and home goods using these materials.
Establishing her business presented challenges. “It was never easy, and it still isn’t!” Ms. Ledua shares. She emphasizes the significance of networking, stating, “Network is your Net Worth when you’re in business.” Despite facing skepticism and criticism for using waste materials, her determination and enthusiasm have propelled her forward.
Ms. Ledua has ambitious plans for her business, including the development of an upcycling center aimed at empowering women in the community. “We are planning to open a center that will serve as a platform for women upcyclers,” she explains, envisioning a supportive space for creation and exhibition.
Recently, she conducted a successful workshop as part of an Outbound Fellows program supported by the Department of State through the East West Centre, identifying six potential trainers in Fiji’s western and northern regions.
To expand her business, Ms. Ledua recognized the need for a consistent revenue stream and a better way to communicate with customers. This realization led her to attend a website-building workshop sponsored by Business Assistance Fiji, which she found to be both productive and efficient, resulting in a crucial tool for her business operations.
Ms. Ledua encourages others 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 advises. Her journey serves as a remarkable example of how creativity, passion, and persistence can transform unlikely materials into beautiful and practical items, inspiring others to contribute to a more sustainable environment.