How to Create a Tech Pack for Your Clothing Manufacturer

A tech pack (short for "technical package") is the most important document in the relationship between a clothing brand and its manufacturer. It's the complete specification document for your garment — the blueprint that tells the factory exactly how to make your product.

Without a clear tech pack, you're gambling. Factories fill in the blanks when information is missing, and those gaps become the source of most quality disputes, sample rejections, and production delays.

This guide walks you through everything a professional tech pack should contain, and how to create one even if you're not a trained fashion designer.

What Is a Tech Pack?

A tech pack is a multi-page document (typically 5–20 pages depending on complexity) that communicates:

• What the garment looks like — sketches, proportions, design details
• How it's constructed — seam types, stitch specifications, finishing techniques
• What it's made of — fabrics, trims, and hardware specifications
• How it should fit — a complete size graded measurement chart
• How it should be decorated — print, embroidery, label placements with exact measurements
• How it should be packaged — hangtags, polybags, folding instructions

Think of it as a contract in design form. The more specific your tech pack, the more accurately your manufacturer can price the job, and the fewer revision rounds your sampling process will require.

Why Every Brand Needs a Tech Pack

Many new founders send a manufacturer a photo or mood board and say "make something like this." This approach leads to:

• Samples that look nothing like what you imagined
• Back-and-forth revisions that delay your launch by months
• Disputes over what was "supposed to be" in the garment
• Higher per-unit costs because the factory has to guess and revise

A clear tech pack solves all of these problems upfront. It demonstrates professionalism, builds trust with your factory, and almost always reduces the number of sample rounds needed.

The 8 Essential Sections of a Tech Pack

1. Cover Page

Your cover page establishes the document and makes it easy to reference. It should include:

• Brand name and logo
• Style name (e.g., "The Eastside Hoodie")
• Style number (your internal reference code, e.g., PA-SW-001)
• Season / Collection (e.g., SS25, Core Range)
• Date and revision number (Rev.1, Rev.2, etc. — important for tracking changes)
• Colorways (list all colorways this tech pack applies to)
• Target delivery date

2. Design Sketch (Technical Flat)

The technical flat is a clean, un-shaded line drawing of your garment — front view, back view, and any important detail views.

This is not the same as a fashion illustration. A fashion illustration shows a garment on a stylized figure and communicates mood. A technical flat is a neutral, architectural drawing that shows every seam, stitch line, pocket, and detail.

What to include:

• Front and back views (and inside if relevant)
• Detail callouts with arrows and notes (e.g., "3-needle stitch on hem", "kangaroo pocket with inside division")
• Proportion indicators (how wide the ribbing is, how long the body is relative to the sleeve)
• Any unique design features highlighted with circles and text notes

Tools for creating technical flats:

• Adobe Illustrator — the industry standard; templates are available online
• Canva or Sketch — acceptable for simpler designs
• Hand-drawn and scanned — works for initial communication, less professional for final documents

3. Bill of Materials (BOM)

The BOM is a complete list of every material that goes into the garment. This is where your factory sources all the inputs for your product.

For each fabric, you should specify:

• Fiber content (e.g., 80% cotton / 20% polyester)
• Weight in GSM (grams per square meter) — e.g., 320 GSM fleece
• Construction type (e.g., French terry, jersey, woven)
• Finish or treatment (e.g., enzyme wash, brushed interior)
• Color name and reference code (e.g., Pantone 19-3911 TCX "Graphite")
• Placement (e.g., shell, lining, trim)

For each trim, you should specify:

• Item type (e.g., zipper, drawcord, elastic, rib knit cuff)
• Brand or quality level (e.g., YKK #5 coil zipper)
• Color reference
• Dimensions
• Placement

4. Construction Details

This section specifies how the garment is assembled — the invisible elements that determine quality and durability.

Key specifications to include:

• Seam types — what kind of seam is used where? (Flatlock, overlock, French seam, bound seam)
• Stitch per inch (SPI) — the density of stitching affects both appearance and strength
• Seam allowances — how much extra fabric beyond the seam line
• Finishing — how are raw edges handled? (Overlock, binding, turned and topstitched)
• Topstitch specifications — number of needles, stitch length, position from seam

Even if you're not a technical expert, you can communicate a lot by marking up photos: "I want this seam to look like this photo" is a valid starting point.

5. Measurement Chart (Spec Sheet)

This is arguably the most technically demanding section. The measurement chart defines the exact dimensions of your garment across all sizes.

Every measurement point needs:

• A clear description (e.g., "chest width measured 1 inch below armhole")
• A measurement for your base size (e.g., Size M)
• Grading increments (the amount each measurement changes between sizes)

Common measurement points for a t-shirt:

• Chest width (½ chest)
• Body length (front and back)
• Shoulder width
• Sleeve length
• Sleeve opening width
• Neck opening width
• Hem width

Critical note: Always specify whether measurements are "garment lay flat" (the standard) or "body measurement." These are different numbers.

If you don't have a measurement chart, you can create one by taking measurements from a garment you love that fits your target customer, then providing those as your spec.

6. Graphic/Decoration Placement

If your garment has any print, embroidery, heat transfer, or label, this section specifies exactly how it should be applied.

For each decoration element:

• Artwork file (vector preferred — .ai, .eps, or high-res .pdf at actual print size)
• Placement measurement — exact position from a reference point (e.g., "left chest embroidery: 3 inches from center front seam, 4 inches below shoulder seam")
• Size of the graphic or logo
• Color breakdown (Pantone references for each color element)
• Technique (screen print, embroidery, DTG, etc.)
• Thread colors for embroidery (DMC or Madeira thread references)

Providing measurement placement diagrams is far clearer than description alone.

7. Label and Packaging Specifications

Often overlooked by new brands, labels and packaging are important brand touchpoints.

Label specifications:

• Brand label / main label (neck or back of waistband) — size and content
• Care/composition label — required content varies by country
• Size label
• Hangtag (if applicable) — design and attachment method

Packaging:

• Folding instructions (how the garment should be folded)
• Polybag size and type
• Carton specifications (number of pieces per carton, carton dimensions/weight)
• Shipping mark requirements

8. Comments and Revision History

Maintain a log of every change made to the tech pack:

Revision	Date	Changed By	Description
Rev.1	2024-09-01	Brand Team	Initial release
Rev.2	2024-09-15	Brand Team	Updated sleeve length per sample feedback
Rev.3	2024-10-01	Brand Team	Changed chest logo placement

This creates accountability and prevents confusion when you're on your third sample revision.

Common Tech Pack Mistakes to Avoid

Not specifying Pantone colors

Describing a color as "dark navy blue" leads to wildly different interpretations. Use Pantone references (TCX for fabric, TPX for paper) every time.

Forgetting to include measurements for all sizes

Your sample might be made in a size M, but you need grade specs for XS through XL before bulk production.

Using raster images for artwork

Always provide vector files for logos and graphics. A 300 DPI JPEG is not sufficient for embroidery digitization or high-quality screen printing.

No revision numbering

Without revision tracking, it's impossible to know which version of the tech pack is current — causing expensive mistakes.

Omitting construction details

"Finish seams neatly" is not a specification. "4-thread overlock, 14 SPI, seam allowance ⅝ inch" is.

Tools for Creating Tech Packs

Professional tools:

• Adobe Illustrator + tech pack templates (search "Illustrator tech pack template free")
• Techpacker — dedicated tech pack software with factory sharing features

Beginner-friendly options:

• Google Sheets for the BOM and measurement chart
• Canva for layout and presentation
• Clear hand sketches scanned and annotated for the flat sketch

You don't need to be a professional fashion designer to create a workable tech pack. What matters is completeness and clarity.

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Start With a Conversation

If this feels overwhelming, remember: you don't have to have a perfect tech pack before you talk to a manufacturer. A good manufacturing partner will guide you through the process and tell you exactly what information they need to get started.

At Potato Apparel, we work with brands at all stages — from those with complete professional tech packs to founders who are starting with just a sketch and a concept. Get in touch and let's figure out the best path forward for your product together.