Being a single mum and running a small business is no easy feat. But Lacadrau Adisokula has managed to juggle family life with her little venture and has done well so far.
Her little cottage industry business involves the small-scale manufacture of all kinds of bags. Her office is the Fiji National Provident Fund Boulevard in Suva.
She is one of the five licensed businesses recommended by the Fiji Arts Council to sell at the space.
And the women from Lomanikoro, Nakasaleka, Kadavu, has expanded her business and now makes and sells pot holders, mobile phone cases, pencil cases, shopping bags, toilet bags, hair ties, laptop pouches, masks and all other kinds of bags.
“I started in 2012 when I used to sew stuff to sell at family gatherings,” Ms Adisokula shared.
“As soon as I realised there was potential there after selling and earning money, I decided to go for it.
“I am thankful to my older sister who gifted me a sewing machine and that helped me a lot with my business.”
After selling to her relatives, she finally had the courage to sell by going to offices in Suva.
“My niche market is sewing the types of things that working women cannot make at home because they don’t have the time to do it.
“So, I came up with idea of sewing pot holders, pencil cases and so on.”
With her income, she was able to support her son Eparama’s education.
“I personal motto and daily mantra is I have to work hard because whatever I do, it will also reflect in my son’s character and how he will take on life.
“As a single parent, I have to live, breathe and eat whatever life lessons I teach my child. He is learning from everything he sees me do.”
Ms Adisokula, 51, said she was grateful to her parents for always supporting and standing by her.
“There are five of us, all my brothers and sisters are married and they have their own families to look after. For me, I have to work hard and use my talent to look after my family’s needs.
“And this is the best life lesson I can share with my son because he is growing up and he needs to understand that to survive, you must work hard. That builds his character and helps him to become independent. Eparama wants to be an entrepreneur too and he told me he wants to do mouldings.
“So I am happy that he is looking outside the box in terms of what he wants to do in life.”
Ms Adisokula said she picked up sewing from her grandmother, “She used a treadle machine and as a small girl I used to help her with her patchwork.
“Whenever she used to sew she would ask me to put together material or help her cut patterns for a dress. She was the reason I developed an interest in sewing. One day, I hope to be able sew my own dress or jaba when I go to a family function, just like my grandmother used to do. She would always sew her own clothes and they were always unique and beautiful.”
Ms Adisokula said her business was affected by COVID-19 and as soon as restrictions were lifted, she returned to sell at the Boulevard.
“It was good timing, people were buying from my stand because they wanted to buy gifts and just to come out after a long time being confined to their own homes.”
She said she received a lot of business from companies that place orders for bags and pouches.
“If they have a workshop they will order bags, or if they are giving out gifts they will order pouches. I am thankful because we were given the opportunity by the Fiji Arts Club. With our business being registered it enables us to market our business. We can also export our products because they are certified Fijian Made.”
