For local artisans, the battle is no longer only about creating quality products, it is about competing against a global manufacturing system capable of producing thousands of low-cost items at a speed and scale small businesses cannot match.
Women artisans and weavers in Fiji say the growing influx of mass-produced imported souvenirs from Asian markets is threatening traditional craftsmanship, reducing sales and putting pressure on livelihoods built around cultural products.
Lautoka entrepreneur and artisan Mafi Leba said the challenge had become increasingly difficult for women who depended on handmade products as a source of income.
“I have been operating my business ‘Mafi Creations’ from home for the past eight years,” she said.
“I can’t sell my products because of those products that has been imported in Fiji and that is what we are facing right now, it’s very hard for us women artisans.”
Ms Leba said imported replicas often mimic traditional Fijian designs but were produced cheaply through large-scale factories, allowing them to enter the market at prices handmade producers cannot compete with.
She questioned why imported imitations of traditional items were being allowed into Fiji when local communities already produced authentic alternatives.
“Why is Government entertaining these imported products to Fiji when we got our products to sell and that is the main problem for us artisans here in Fiji,” she said.
She highlighted imitation tanoa products as one example, saying plastic versions imported from overseas were competing with traditionally crafted pieces made locally.
“For example, the imitation of a tanoa product is being imported from Thailand and Asian countries are plastics ones and we got the real ones here at home,” she said.
“Why is the government entertaining this plastic tanoa from other side of the world when we got ours.”
Ms Leba, a Fulaga native, also raised concerns over imported handbags and other products similar to traditional Fijian crafts.
“I am a weaver, and I weave voivoi and bags and Fijian handmade fans,” she said.
“For us when we sell our products at a higher rate, but people buy the imported bags because it is sold at a lower price and these are imported from Thailand, Philippines, how can we stop it.”
The issue reflects a wider global trend where countries with advanced manufacturing industries can produce goods rapidly and at significantly lower costs through factory-based production, automated processes and large supply chains.
While these imports provide consumers with cheaper choices, artisans argue that they also risk reducing demand for locally made products, threatening cultural knowledge passed through generations.
Responding to the concerns raised at the Lautoka Women’s Forum, Minister for Women Sashi Kiran acknowledged the complexity of the issue and said further discussions were needed with relevant ministries.
“Maybe I’ll go back to Ministry of I-Taukei Affairs and Ministry of Trade to understand,” she said.
“I personally don’t fully understand what things are imported, I have been hearing about it, but it is something we definitely need to protect.”
She said the matter would be taken forward as authorities considered ways to support local producers while protecting Fiji’s cultural products.
“So, it is something that we will take up.”
