Abstract:
The fashion design industry in Sri Lanka, particularly in the Colombo District,
operates in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market where innovation is
vital for long-term success. However, many firms struggle to cultivate innovation
through structured quality management practices. This study examines the impact of
Total Quality Management (TQM) practices on innovation within the fashion design
industry of the Colombo District. The objectives of the study are to identify the
relationship between key TQM dimensions—leadership commitment, customer
focus, continuous improvement, and employee involvement—and to determine their
influence on organisational innovation. A quantitative research approach was
employed, using structured questionnaires distributed among 185 managers from
garment and fashion design organisations. The data were analysed using the SPSS
software package. The findings reveal that continuous improvement and employee
involvement have a significant positive impact on innovation, while leadership
commitment shows no significant relationship, and customer focus was excluded
from the final model due to statistical insignificance. These results highlight the
importance of empowering employees and embedding continuous improvement as
core elements of TQM to stimulate innovation. The study provides practical
implications for policymakers and managers to design quality-driven strategies that
foster creativity, enhance competitiveness, and support sustainable growth in Sri
Lanka’s fashion design industry.
