BY SHOREYANN RAGOSO
Sonya Rechenberg, from Malaita, has turned her love for colors into more than just art – she has made it a way to teach and empower women and youth in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Through her brand, Sons & Daughters, Sonya now runs a tie dye business and a training program that shows others how to turn creativity into income.
For Sonya, tie dye is more than just a craft. It is a way for women and youth to express creativity, build skills, and change their lives. Through her colors and designs, she is showing that art can be both beautiful and life-changing.
Growing up, tie dye was a part of Sonya’s daily life and community. “I loved tie dye at home, especially in bedrooms,” she recalls. She started out by buying tie dye from local artisans, until her late husband encouraged her to try it herself.
In 2019, Sonya tried tie dye for the first time. At first, she struggled. “I didn’t know how to do it well and I wasn’t happy with my results,” she said. But she didn’t give up. Sonya spent months learning on her own, using online tutorials and advice from friends and family who had experience with tie dye. About a year later, she felt confident enough to start her own business.
In 2020, Sonya launched her tie dye venture under the name Frangipani AliCreations. The following year, she rebranded it to Sons & Daughters. After the rebrand, her work quickly grew in popularity in Honiara.
By 2021, many people had started asking her to teach them tie dye. At first, Sonya felt she wasn’t ready. But in 2025, she began offering formal training programs.
Sonya says one of her main reasons for starting training is to change the way tie dye is done in the Solomon Islands. “For many years, I noticed that tie dye designs here often looked the same. I think it’s the influence of social media, TikTok, and during the time of COVID,” she explained. She was inspired by what she saw online. “If the world can do it, why can’t we?” she said.
Her goal is to show women and youth that tie dye can be more than a hobby – it can be a source of income. “If I can learn and build a business, others can too,” Sonya said. She named her brand Sons & Daughters to show that it is not just her brand but a shared opportunity for all Solomon Islanders.
Currently, Sonya focuses on teaching women and youth to work with dyes and materials commonly available in Honiara, especially the traditional Talon dye. She adapted the methods she learned online to fit local materials, climate, and dyes.
During her trainings, Sonya provides a simple manual and demonstrates every tool she uses at home. She also explains where students can buy or find these materials. “I encourage them to experiment and create their own styles because tie dye is not a skill with only one right way,” she said.
Sonya hopes to expand her training program in the future to include ice dye classes. She is also looking for a venue that can welcome not only unemployed youth but also students and anyone interested in learning. She dreams of working with schools to include tie dye as part of school activities and encourages more boys to join the training.
“You come, learn from me, then go home, practice, and improve,” Sonya tells her students. She shares online resources and motivates them to keep learning. Her ultimate hope is that some of her students will start their own tie dye classes and businesses.
Her message is clear: “If I can learn tie dye from the Internet and turn it into a business, anyone else can also learn, create, and earn from it.”
