Training-Driven Innovation in Hijab SMEs: Improving Design, Pattern-Making, and Sewing Skills for Competitive Advantage

Abstract

Hijab small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to local creative economies but often face limited product differentiation, imitation-based production, and uneven technical skills. This study evaluated a structured vocational training intervention covering hijab design, pattern-making, and sewing techniques. A descriptive-quantitative design was applied to ten hijab SME workers in Manyar, Gresik, Indonesia. Data were obtained through competency assessments, product-performance scoring, and four-point Likert observations of instructor and participant activities. Design scores increased from 40-60 before training to 60-80 after training. Post-training pattern-making scores ranged from 70-95, while sewing scores ranged from 70-85. Planned activities were implemented completely; instructor means ranged from 3.72 to 3.82 and participant means from 3.50 to 3.55. The findings show that focused, practice-oriented training can strengthen creative and production competencies and support better-quality, more differentiated hijab products. Because direct pre-test ranges were not reported for pattern-making and sewing, future evaluations should retain participant-level baseline and follow-up data to establish the magnitude and durability of change.