Sending an incomplete tech pack to a factory is one of the most common — and most costly — mistakes new brands make. A missing measurement, an unspecified trim, or an unclear construction detail can turn a two-week sampling process into a two-month back-and-forth.
Use this checklist before sending your tech pack to any factory. Each item on this list represents something that, if left out, will result in a question from your manufacturer — or worse, an assumption they make on your behalf.
The 8-Point Tech Pack Checklist
1. Front and Back Flat Sketches
Clean vector technical drawings — not fashion illustrations — of the front and back of the garment. Every seam, topstitch, pocket, opening, label position, and design detail must be visible and clearly labelled. If there are side seam details, interior construction, or unusual features, include a side view or detail callout.
Common mistakes: Using a fashion sketch instead of a flat technical drawing; leaving details like pocket depth or zipper placement ambiguous.
2. Full Graded Measurement Chart
A complete spec sheet listing every point of measure (POM) across all sizes you intend to produce. This includes:
- Chest, waist, hip (where applicable)
- Body length (front and back)
- Sleeve length and width
- Neck opening, armhole depth
- Hem width, cuff width
Every measurement should include a tolerance (e.g. ±0.5cm). Without tolerances, the factory has no guidance on what's acceptable — and no basis for a QC pass/fail decision.
3. Bill of Materials (BOM)
A complete list of every material and component in the garment:
- Shell fabric — composition (e.g. 80% cotton / 20% polyester), weight (GSM), finish (stonewash, enzyme wash, etc.), supplier name if specified
- Lining (if applicable)
- Interlining or interfacing
- Zips — type, length, brand (e.g. YKK), colour
- Buttons, rivets, eyelets — size, finish
- Labels — woven, printed, care label content
- Elastic — width, stretch recovery
- Thread — colour, type
- Packaging — poly bag, hangers, hang tags
If the factory is sourcing materials on your behalf, every item on the BOM is what they'll quote against. Missing items mean missing costs — and surprise invoices later.
4. Pantone Colour References
For every fabric, thread, trim, and label — specify the exact Pantone code. Do not use colour names like "forest green" or "dusty rose." Colour interpretation varies dramatically between suppliers and across countries.
If you're producing multiple colourways, include a colourway breakdown table that maps each component to its Pantone code per colourway.
5. Construction Details and Stitch Specs
For each seam and join in the garment, specify:
- Seam type (e.g. flatlock, overlock, bound seam, French seam)
- Stitch type (e.g. single needle, double needle, cover stitch)
- Stitch count per cm (SPI — stitches per inch)
- Seam allowance
- Topstitch distance from seam
This section is often the most under-specified in self-created tech packs, and it's where factories make the most assumptions.
6. Label Placement and Content
Specify where every label sits in the garment — woven brand label (position, attachment method), size label, care label, country of origin label. Include the exact care symbol sequence for your care label (ISO 3758 symbols are the global standard).
Care label requirements vary by export market — if you're selling in the EU, US, UK, or Australia, check the labelling regulations for each.
7. Grading Rules
Grading rules define how each measurement changes from one size to the next. Simply having measurements for each size isn't enough — the factory needs to know the grade increment at each point of measure to cut marker-efficient patterns.
If you're working from a bought tech pack template, grading rules are typically pre-set. If you're creating your own, this is usually where specialist input pays for itself.
8. Sampling Instructions and Comments Section
Include a clear notes or comments field at the bottom of the tech pack where you capture:
- Sample size requested (usually one size — typically M or size 8)
- Sample quantity
- Any known problem areas or areas to pay close attention to
- Reference garments (if sending a physical garment for fit reference)
- Preferred communication format for sample comments
Before You Send: Two Final Checks
Have someone else review it
A second pair of eyes — ideally someone with production experience — will catch things you've become blind to. If you don't have that resource internally, consider a brief technical review before sending to a factory.
PDF it and read it as the factory would
Print or screen-read your tech pack as if you've never seen it before. Is every sketch legible? Are all measurements readable? Could a factory team in a different country follow this document without contacting you? If not, revise before sending.
The Cost of Skipping This Checklist
Every sampling revision costs money — usually $50–$300 per sample, plus shipping, plus the time delay. A tech pack that comes back from the factory needing three rounds of corrections could easily cost $600–$900 in sample fees alone, before you've made a single unit for sale.
Getting the tech pack right the first time is the single highest-ROI step in your production process.
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