Tiko Ledua is making strides with her innovative upcycling venture, Ledua’s Art Collection. With a background in painting and decorating that spans 15 years, Ms. Ledua has merged her expertise with a commitment to sustainability to create a unique business transforming waste into creative, functional pieces. She has built her business from scratch and even designed her website to showcase her distinctive products.
“Being a mother comes first,” Ms. Ledua explained as she balances motherhood with her home-based business. Her days are filled with activities, from caring for her toddler to crafting her next artwork. “My day is always busy, either I am working or I am mothering,” she added.
Ms. Ledua’s artistic journey began 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 reminisced, which led her to master colour coordination in her work.
The idea of incorporating upcycling into her art came to Ms. Ledua during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residing in Raiwaqa, she and her husband, who has skills in building and joinery, started collecting waste materials like old tires, baby cots, and cardboard from the roadside. “We began our new journey of upcycling by picking whatever waste we could find and started creating art and housewares from these materials,” she explained.
Transforming her skills into a business presented challenges. “It was never easy and it still isn’t!” she stated, emphasizing the importance of networking for success. Despite encountering skepticism regarding her use of waste materials, her determination and passion have kept her moving forward.
Looking ahead, Ms. Ledua is working to establish an upcycling centre aimed at empowering women upcyclers. She envisions this centre as a supportive community space where women can create art and positively impact the environment.
Recently, she successfully hosted a workshop as part of the Outbound Fellows programme, sponsored by the Department of State through the East West Centre. The workshop focused on identifying potential trainers in Fiji’s western and northern regions, and Ms. Ledua was pleased to report the identification of six potential trainers.
To enhance her business, Ms. Ledua recognized the need for a consistent revenue stream and effective communication of her mission to customers. This realization led her to participate in a website-building workshop sponsored by Business Assistance Fiji. “The website workshop and website-building process were very productive and efficient,” she noted, highlighting the website’s importance to her business operations.
Ms. Ledua encourages others to educate themselves on repurposing household waste. “Learn to educate yourselves in how to repurpose household wastes to reduce and minimize waste from ending up in the landfill,” she urged. Her journey exemplifies how creativity, passion, and perseverance can transform unlikely materials into beautiful, useful items, inspiring others to contribute to a more sustainable future.