A tech pack is the instruction manual for your garment. It tells the factory exactly what to make, in which materials, at which sizes and with which details. The better your tech pack, the fewer sampling rounds you need and the closer the bulk order matches what you imagined.
You do not need expensive software. A clear PDF made in Illustrator, a spreadsheet, or even well-annotated photos can work. What matters is that nothing important is left to guesswork.
1. Flat sketches
Front and back technical drawings of the garment, without models or shading. Add close-ups for details such as pocket shapes, zip ends, cuff construction or hood shape. Mark seam lines and stitching where they matter.
2. Measurement specification
This is the most important page. List each point of measure (POM), such as body length, chest width, shoulder, sleeve length, cuff opening and hood height, with a value for every size and a tolerance (for example ±1 cm).
- Say how each point is measured, for example chest measured 2 cm below the armhole.
- Include your full size range, not only the sample size.
- If you are copying the fit of an existing garment, send that garment or its measurements.
3. Materials
For every fabric, state the composition, construction and weight, for example 100% cotton brushed fleece, 400 GSM. Add rib fabrics for cuffs and hems, linings and interlinings. If you are not sure about weight, our GSM guide helps.
4. Trims and hardware
- Zips: type, length, colour, puller (plain or branded)
- Drawcords: flat or round, width, tips (metal, plastic, silicone)
- Buttons, snaps, eyelets, toggles, elastic
- Thread colour, especially if contrast stitching is part of the look
5. Colours
Give a Pantone reference for each colour. For fabric, textile references (TCX or TPX) are more reliable than paper (C or U) codes, because dye looks different on cotton than ink on paper. Send a physical swatch if you have one.
6. Artwork and placement
For every print or embroidery, include the vector artwork (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF), the decoration method, the size in centimetres and the exact position, for example 8 cm below the neck seam, centred. Show placement on the flat sketch.
7. Labels and packaging
- Main neck label: woven or printed, size, artwork, position
- Care and composition label with the wording your market requires
- Size labels, hang tags, stickers and barcodes
- Folding method, poly bags, boxes and carton marks
8. Order details
Finish with quantities per colour and per size, target delivery date, target price if you have one, and the shipping destination. This lets the factory confirm whether your timeline and budget are realistic before sampling starts.
No tech pack yet?
That is fine for a first conversation. Send reference photos, your preferred fabric and weight, your size range and logo files. A good manufacturer will ask the right questions and help you turn that into a production-ready spec.
