You turn left right after Lelata bridge into a nice little drive way. You immediately see the big wall with a tribute to the patriarch of the family. Her photo takes up an entire wall and I wondered about the face behind the brand. How she lived, who she was and what amazing things she did for her family when she was alive.

Tavai is a young fresh brand in town and colours greet you as soon as you open the door. I’ve been following this brand from its early days and it is a pleasure to watch it grow. Agnes Tauta Fruean launched her business a year after her mother, Tavai passed away on 3 September 2021.

The epitome of a strong and loving woman, Fruean and her siblings are keeping her legacy and memory alive. Self-taught via YouTube videos in 2017, she learnt to sew and trialled iron on labels. She and Tavai started making wristlets and sold them to friends and families. As work became busier, Tavai continued making piles of bags for Agnes to take overseas during work trips.

“I knew then that it was something that I wanted to continue doing and it was the perfect way for us to honour and remember her. Making bags was something that made her happy and gave her purpose. 

"It was also something that we would do together in the weekends, along with my brother who also taught himself how to sew in the process. 

"There weren’t that many smaller businesses focusing on bags (other than the established ones like Plantation House, Pacific Jewell, Siva Afi and Enara). 

"I think now, more businesses are making bags as they’ve become quite popular over the years. You see a lot of sewing places that were only focused on clothing now making their own range of bags too which is great!”

Current products include wristlets, pouches, handbags, laptop sleeves, scrunchies, cushion covers and key chains coin pouches. They also do custom bulk and individual orders for organisations, businesses or individuals. Most products are made in house and there are plans to include other brands.

“I want to grow our brand, take it to Pacific and the world. I want my mother’s legacy to continue to live on long after my siblings and I are gone. Hopefully some of the nieces and nephews will take over in the future. 

"I am confident that with focus and commitment, I can take my business to the level I want it to be. It is also my hope that I can instil in my nieces and nephews that you don’t need to work a 8 to 5 job to earn a living. 

"You can earn doing what you love doing, which for me, is creating. I have intentions of expanding our product range down the line and also collaborating and doing a lot more work with other local brands."

This designer’s advice for others starting out is to just do it. “Timing may never seem right, but you have to be bold to make the move and just start. It took me a few years to start mine but I eventually committed to it full time, and made it happen. 

The internet is full of information and videos to help you if you really want to learn something, make use of what you have. Learn as you go and keep learning! In addition. We are a small team with big dreams, but nothing is impossible. One of the most powerful tools we have available to us is the internet. 

As business owners, you don’t need to go overseas and pay thousands for a course to learn and improve something. Most things, if not all, are available online. We can learn so many things if we are willing to make time for it and commit.

So, the next time you are on that side of the island, pop in to this colourful spot for something home made, special and personal. The online store is planned to launch later this year and you can contact them (ThisnThat Samoa) via social media channels (FaceBook: @Thisnthat_samoa, IG:@thisnthat_samoa, tiktok: @thisnthatsamoa). 

Have another wonderful week Samoa and remember to buy local!