What is a tech pack?
A tech pack, short for technical package, is the document that tells a manufacturer exactly how to make a garment. It turns a design into instructions: what the garment looks like from every side, its measurements in every size, the materials and trims, how it is sewn, where the logos go and how it is packed.
A good tech pack means fewer sample rounds, accurate quotes and the same product every time you reorder. It is usually a PDF or spreadsheet, made in Illustrator, Excel or a dedicated tool, with one tech pack per style.
What goes in a tech pack
What goes in a tech pack
- p.1
Style summary
Name, number, season, size range, base size
- p.2
Flat sketches
Front, back and details, with callouts
- p.3
Measurements
Points of measure, tolerances, grading
- p.4
Bill of materials
Fabric, trims, thread, labels, packaging
- p.5
Construction
Seams, stitches, finishing and washes
- p.6
Artwork and labels
Files, method, size and placement
- p.7
Colorways
Pantone colors for every part
- p.8
Packaging
Folding, polybags, hangtags, cartons
- Style summary: brand, style name and number, season, size range, base size and revision date.
- Flat sketches: front and back technical drawings, plus close-ups of details.
- Measurements: points of measure, tolerances and grading for every size.
- Bill of materials (BOM): every component, from fabric to polybag.
- Construction: seam and stitch types, hems, finishes and washes.
- Artwork and labels: files, decoration method, size and placement.
- Colorways: the color of every part in every version.
- Packaging: folding, polybags, hangtags and carton marks.
Flat sketches
Flat sketches are line drawings of the garment laid flat, drawn to proportion, not fashion illustrations on a figure. Draw the front and back, and add close-ups of anything a photo would not make clear: a pocket, a collar, a zip end.
Use callouts to point to each detail and name it: "double-needle coverstitch hem, 2 cm", "metal eyelets, antique brass". If something must not change, say so.
Measurements: points of measure and grading
The measurement chart lists each point of measure (POM), where it is taken, the tolerance, and the value in every size. Measure the base size first, usually a medium, then grade the other sizes by set amounts.
Points of measure on a t-shirt
- A Chest width, 2.5 cm below armhole
- B Body length from high point shoulder
- C Sleeve length, shoulder seam to hem
- D Shoulder width, seam to seam
- E Neck width, seam to seam
- F Hem width, edge to edge
| Point of measure | Tolerance | S | M (base) | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Chest width, 2.5 cm below armhole | ±1 | 50 | 53 | 56 |
| B Body length from high point shoulder | ±1 | 70 | 72 | 74 |
| C Sleeve length, shoulder seam to hem | ±0.5 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| D Shoulder width, seam to seam | ±0.5 | 44 | 46 | 48 |
| E Neck width, seam to seam | ±0.5 | 18 | 18.5 | 19 |
| F Hem width, edge to edge | ±1 | 50 | 53 | 56 |
The tolerance is how far a finished garment can differ from the chart and still pass. Grading is how much each measurement changes between sizes: in this example chest width grows 3 cm per size and body length 2 cm.
Bill of materials
| Component | What to specify | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shell fabric | Composition, construction, weight, color | 100% combed ring-spun cotton jersey, 200 GSM, Pantone 19-4052 TCX |
| Rib | Composition, rib type, width | 1x1 rib, 95/5 cotton/elastane, 2 cm finished |
| Thread | Type and color | Polyester core-spun, matched to body |
| Main label | Type, size, content | Woven label, 5 x 2 cm, logo |
| Care and fibre label | Content for each market | Printed satin label, side seam |
| Hangtag and polybag | Size, material, artwork | Recycled card hangtag; polybag with warning text |
Construction, artwork and colorways
- Construction: name the seams and stitches, such as overlock side seams, coverstitch hems or flatlock seams on activewear, plus any wash or finish.
- Artwork: supply vector files (AI, EPS or PDF), the decoration method, the finished size and the position measured from a fixed point, for example "8 cm below the high point shoulder, centred".
- Colors: use Pantone references, such as TCX for fabric, rather than names like "navy", and list the color of every part in each colorway.
- Labels: say where each label goes and what it must say; the rules differ by market (see step 8 of our guide to starting a clothing brand).
Free tech pack template
Fill in one template per style. If you would rather not draw the flats yourself, a freelance tech pack designer can prepare them; send us what you have and we will tell you if anything is missing before sampling.
The sampling stages
Sampling stages, from first build to bulk
- 1
Proto
Shape and design, often in substitute fabric
- 2
Fit
Fit on a person, in the real or a close fabric
- 3
Size set
Grading across sizes (optional)
- 4
Pre-production
Final fabric, trims and labels; the bulk reference
- 5
Top of production
Pulled from the bulk run to confirm it matches
- Proto sample: the first build, checking shape and design; it may use a substitute fabric.
- Fit sample: checked on a person, in the real or a close fabric, and corrected until the fit is right.
- Size set: samples in several sizes to check the grading; useful for fitted styles.
- Pre-production (PP) sample: made in the final fabric with the final trims and labels; once you approve it, it becomes the reference for bulk.
- Top of production (TOP) sample: pulled from the bulk run to confirm it matches the approved sample.
At Nevear, a sample round typically takes 2–3 weeks, and the sample cost is stated in your quote. Bulk orders are usually delivered 3–4 weeks from the order date, including shipping.
How to review a sample and give comments
- Measure it against the chart and note anything outside tolerance.
- Try it on a person of the base size and photograph the fit from the front, side and back.
- Check materials against the bill of materials: fabric, color, trims and labels.
- Check the make: stitching, seams, print or embroidery quality and placement.
- Wash it and measure again to check shrinkage.
- Send numbered comments that refer to POM letters, with photos, and update the tech pack revision.
Common tech pack mistakes
- No base size, or no tolerances, so nobody knows what counts as correct.
- Color names instead of Pantone references.
- Artwork without a size or a measured position.
- Missing label instructions, which can break labelling rules in your market.
- Changing the spec in emails without updating the tech pack.
- One tech pack covering several styles, instead of one per style.