How to Create a Tech Pack That Actually Gets Your Design Made Right

What Is a Tech Pack, Really?

A tech pack — short for technical package — is a comprehensive document that tells a manufacturer everything they need to know to produce your garment. It’s not a sketch with a mood board. It’s a technical reference that covers measurements, materials, construction details, finishing, and packaging.

Think of it as the shared language between you and your factory. The better your tech pack, the fewer conversations you need to have — because the answers are already in the document.

Most factories worth working with will request a tech pack before they quote a production run. If a manufacturer is willing to skip it, that’s a red flag.

The Essential Sections of a Tech Pack

1. Flat Sketches and Design Details

Start with clean, professional flat sketches — front, back, and side views. These should be technical drawings, not fashion illustrations. Show the garment lying flat with all seams, pockets, collars, and stitching lines clearly visible.

Include callouts for design details that can’t be communicated visually:

• Stitching type (single needle, double needle, coverstitch)
• Seam allowance width
• Pocket placement and style
• Hardware details (zippers, buttons, snaps, drawstrings)
• Label placement

2. Measurement Specs (Size Chart)

This is the most commonly under-specified section — and the one that causes the most headaches.

Your size chart should include:

• All body measurements (chest, waist, hips, inseam, shoulder width)
• All garment measurements (pit-to-pit, shoulder-to-hem, sleeve length)
• Tolerance levels (+/- cm or inches at each measurement point)

Be explicit about which size is your “fit sample” size — typically a size Medium or L for men’s wear, and an M or S for women’s. The factory uses this to check proportions before scaling up or down.

3. Material Specifications

For each fabric and trim component, document the following:

Attach physical swatches where possible. If you’re working remotely with a factory overseas, send fabric swatches by courier — color and texture are nearly impossible to convey accurately through photos.

4. Construction and Finishing Notes

This section covers how the garment is put together. Be as specific as possible:

• Stitch density: Stitches per inch (SPI) — typically 12–15 SPI for knits, 14–18 SPI for wovens
• Thread type: Polyester, cotton-wrapped polyester, or cotton
• Finishing details: Hem type (blind hem, raw edge, serged), collar construction, waistband treatment
• Quality standards: Define what a pass/fail looks like — unopened seam, missing stitch, crooked collar

5. Graphic and Print Details (If Applicable)

If your design includes screen prints, embroidery, appliqué, or woven labels, include a separate art file plus a spec sheet for each:

• File format (AI, EPS, PDF with outlined fonts)
• Placement coordinates (distance from shoulder seam, center back, etc.)
• Color codes (Pantone C or U codes for each color)
• Stitch count or print method for embroidery

6. Packaging and Labeling Requirements

Often overlooked, but critical for retail-ready products:

• Polybag thickness and size
• Carton dimensions and units per carton
• Hang tags and price stickers
• Care and content labels (fiber composition, country of origin)
• Any brand-specific packaging (printed tissue, stickers, brand cards)

Tools for Building Your Tech Pack

You don’t need expensive design software to create a solid tech pack. The format matters less than the content. That said, some tools make it easier:

• Adobe Illustrator: Industry standard for flat sketches and technical drawings. The most professional output.
• Tech Pack Pro / Net Components: Dedicated tech pack templates — structured and factory-friendly.
• Excel or Google Sheets: Works fine for size charts and measurement specs. Keep it clean and labeled.
• Canva: Acceptable for very basic first drafts, but not detailed enough for production.

Whatever tool you use, export your final tech pack as a PDF — it’s the most universal format and harder to accidentally alter.

Common Tech Pack Mistakes to Avoid

1. Vague measurement specs: “Chest should be about 50 cm” is not a spec. Give the number, the tolerance, and the size it belongs to.
2. Missing colorway details: If you want three colorways, spec each one separately. Don’t write “color as per approved sample.”
3. No reference sample: A tech pack alone can’t replace a physical sample for color, hand-feel, and drape. Always send a reference sample when possible.
4. Over-specifying unimportant details: If you don’t care whether the thread is polyester or cotton-wrapped polyester, leave it open. Micromanaging minor details erodes trust in your overall spec.
5. Forgetting care labels: Different markets have different legal requirements. Check the destination country’s fiber content labeling laws before production.

How to Send Your Tech Pack to a Factory

When you’re ready to send your tech pack to a manufacturer for quoting, organize it into a single PDF where possible, with the following naming convention:

[BrandName]_[GarmentType]_[Colorway]_[Date]_[Version].pdf

Example: PRPApparel_Hoodie_NavyBlack_2026_Q2_v1.pdf

Version numbering matters. Factories will sometimes pull an old version if you resend files without changing the name. Always increment the version.

Final Thoughts

A well-built tech pack does more than communicate your design — it signals to the factory that you know what you’re doing. Manufacturers take clients seriously when they receive a thorough, organized document. It reduces friction, shortens lead times, and ultimately gets you a better product.

If you’re sourcing your first production run and don’t have a tech pack yet, start with the essentials — flat sketches, a size chart with tolerances, and material specs. You can add detail over time. But those three things alone will already put you ahead of most first-time apparel entrepreneurs.

Need help putting a tech pack together for your next garment? Get in touch with our team and we’ll walk you through what your factory needs to see.