If you've ever tried to get a garment manufactured — whether through a local factory or an overseas supplier — you've probably been asked for a tech pack. And if you didn't have one, you already know how that conversation ended.
A tech pack (short for technical package) is the master document that tells a manufacturer exactly how to build your garment. It's the difference between a factory producing what you imagined and producing something you've never seen before.
What a Tech Pack Actually Is
Think of a tech pack as the blueprint for your garment. Just as an architect wouldn't hand a builder a mood board and expect a finished house, a designer can't hand a factory a sketch and expect a production-ready sample.
A complete tech pack is a structured document — typically a PDF or set of files — that covers every technical detail of the garment. Most factories won't start cutting fabric without one.
What's Inside a Tech Pack?
A professional tech pack typically includes the following components:
1. Flat Sketches (Technical Drawings)
Vector illustrations of the garment from the front and back — sometimes side views too. These are clean, line-based drawings (not fashion illustrations) that show every seam, pocket, zipper, and construction detail. Factories use these to understand the silhouette and structure.
2. Spec Sheet (Measurement Chart)
A graded measurement table listing every key point of measure (POM) across all sizes. For example: chest width, body length, sleeve length, armhole depth, hem width. Each measurement includes a tolerance (e.g. ±0.5cm) so the factory knows what's acceptable.
3. Bill of Materials (BOM)
A complete list of every material, trim, and component that goes into the garment: main fabric (with composition, weight, and finish), lining, zips, buttons, labels, hang tags, packaging. The BOM is what manufacturers use to source materials and calculate a production cost.
4. Construction Details
Stitch type, seam type, seam allowance, thread colour, finishing method — all specified per seam and per part of the garment. This is where you tell the factory how to put the garment together, not just what it looks like.
5. Grading Specs
Size grading rules define how the measurements change between sizes. Most brands grade across at least XS–XL; some extend to 3XL or use numerical sizing (0–14). Grading specs ensure consistency across a full size run.
6. Colorway Breakdown
Pantone colour references for every fabric and trim, in every colourway you intend to produce. Pantone codes prevent colour interpretation errors between you and your factory — especially important when producing across different countries.
Why Manufacturers Require a Tech Pack
Factories work across dozens of brands simultaneously. They need precise, unambiguous instructions so samples come back correct — or as close as possible — on the first pass. A tech pack eliminates guesswork and gives the factory a document to reference and quote from.
Without one, you'll likely face:
- Multiple sampling rounds (each costs time and money)
- Incorrect sizing or proportions
- Wrong fabrics or trims used
- Inaccurate production quotes
- Factories declining to work with you entirely
Do I Need to Create a Tech Pack Myself?
Not necessarily. Tech packs are traditionally created by technical designers or garment technologists — a role that sits between fashion design and production. If you don't have that expertise in-house, you have two options:
- Buy a pre-made tech pack — If your garment is a common style (hoodie, tee, jogger, jacket), a production-ready template gives you a complete starting point. You customise the details to match your design. This is the fastest and most cost-effective route.
- Commission a custom tech pack — If your design is complex or highly specific, a technical designer builds the pack from your brief. Turnaround is typically 3–7 business days.
What Format Does a Tech Pack Come In?
Most professional tech packs are delivered as a combination of:
- .ai — Adobe Illustrator source files (editable flat sketches)
- .pdf — Print-ready document for sending directly to factories
- .xlsx — Excel spec sheet (editable measurements and BOM)
Having the editable source files means you can update measurements, swap colourways, and adapt the pack for future styles — without starting from scratch.
The Bottom Line
A tech pack isn't optional if you want to manufacture seriously. It protects you (the brand) by creating a shared reference that the factory has agreed to produce against. It protects the factory by giving them clear instructions. And it protects the sample itself from becoming an expensive game of telephone.
Whether you're a first-time brand or scaling into production, getting your tech packs right is the single most important step before you talk to a factory.
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