Merelea’s creation gains recognition
MERELEA Biutiviti is truly a woman skilled in many trades. She hails from Tailevu and over the years has gained experience as an artisan, a care giver and interestingly, a mushroom farmer.
Being one of the 250 women who featured at the recent Central Division Women's Expo in early March at the Vodafone Arena has been a great experience for her.
The mother of four who tried other fields displayed a wide range of items and jewellery sets made from all sorts of (cloth) materials at the expo. She prefers this trade as it allows her to spend more time with her family.
She first learned how to make her own creations a few years ago from another woman in the community and has been making her own unique pieces and selling it since.
Merelea said she prints her own material and sews dresses out of it. The same material she uses to create earrings and matching necklace pieces to go with it.
Since venturing into this micro business, she is now able to earn a living for herself and her family.
The material she uses for the jewellery pieces is sewn together with its hooks and parts.
Merelea said these creations have gained wide popularity in her community as many buy her hand printed materials and outfits to suit the occasions they like to dress up for.
The experience of showcasing her work for the very first time in an event such as the Central Women's Division Expo has been an eye opener for her.
She said the event was a great opportunity for learning, socialising and exchanging ideas and tips with fellow women artisans.
Merelea said she would further strengthen many areas in her small business after her experience at the expo. She was also one of the participants at the fashion show during the expo and displaying her work through such a platform was also enriching.
She said it was a proud and pleasant feeling seeing how far her craft had brought her.
During the fashion show, she featured an attire which women and girls can wear to any occasion. She also featured matching earrings and necklaces made from the same material to go with it.
The artisan’s word of advice to other women was to never let their socio-economic backgrounds affect their chances of being successful and making a name for themselves.
She said through this simple task of creating earrings and jewellery she has been able to provide for her loved ones and to come this far.
So if you are a stay at home mum and looking for something to do, like Merelea you can start your own business and tap into some creative ideas to start you off. According to smallbiztrends.com these are some business ideas you can start from the comfort of your own home;
Jewellery Making Business
Jewellery makers can offer a huge range of products, from beaded jewellery to those made with precious metals. You can start small and then grow your own jewellery line over time;
Fashion Designer
Start your own line of hand-sewn clothing, like dresses, tops, or entire outfits.
Knit Goods Seller
If you're a skilled knitter, there's nearly a endless selection of products you can sell, including hats, scarves, blankets, and socks;
Painter
However, many artists also choose to sell original versions of their work.
These are generally priced higher, but can only be sold one time.