LocationsEmpowering Women Micro-Entrepreneurs in the Pacific: A Q&A with Silina Bale
October 6, 2025
As part of UNDP’s Supplier Development Programme, we are pleased to feature inspiring entrepreneurs who are making a meaningful impact in their communities through creativity, resilience, and sustainable practices.
In this edition, we introduce Silina Bale, founder of Finding Island Tours, based in Suva, Fiji.
Driven by the love for her children and pride in her island heritage, Silina started Finding Islands to celebrate and share the essence of island life, through art, design and storytelling. Silina is partnering with other creatives as she explores other possibilities in bag making. Based in Suva, her business offers uniquely crafted bags and fabrics infused with island fusion and masi. Silina’s work reflects her commitment to sustainability, with products that reduce plastic use and promote cultural storytelling through locally sourced materials.
In this Q&A, Silina shares her story, her aspirations, and her vision for a more sustainable and inclusive Pacific.
Silina Bale.
Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to start your business?
My business started because of my children. They are the whole reason I started this business, and they remain my motivation, keeping me striving for the best in what I do.
What values or vision guide your business?
The pride of being an Islander and being able to showcase the Island life everywhere.
What products or services do you offer?
Bags and fabric with Island fusion, incorporated with Masi.
What makes your business unique compared to others?
I make sure that my designs are unique and not something that already exists or is a replica of another design. This is why all my product designs are created by a Samoan artist whom I have hired to design my products.
How does your business contribute to sustainability (e.g. reducing waste, offering eco-friendly alternatives)?
My bags are specifically designed in a way that they can be worn as part of your outfit, used for shopping, and crafted to be versatile for many purposes. This helps limit the use of plastic bags.
What is your vision for the future of your business?
To be a recognized and well-known brand that is celebrated for its authenticity and uniqueness.
How do you see your work contributing to a more sustainable Pacific?
What’s very important is how we tell our stories, culture, and traditions through art and design, using what is readily available around us—renewable resources that help sustain our daily livelihoods.
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