A tech pack is the instruction manual for your garment. It tells the factory exactly what to make, so the sample (and your 200th piece) matches what you had in mind. If you’re starting a clothing brand, it’s one of the most useful documents you’ll create. Here’s what goes in one, and what to do if you don’t have one yet.
What is a tech pack?
A tech pack (short for technical package) is a set of pages, usually a PDF or spreadsheet, that describes every detail of a garment: its shape, measurements, fabric, colours, trims, artwork, labels and packaging. Manufacturers use it to make patterns, order materials, price the job and check quality.
Without one, a factory has to guess. Guesses lead to back-and-forth, extra sample rounds and products that don’t quite match your vision.
What goes in a tech pack
1. Flat sketches
Clean line drawings of the front and back (and side or inside views if needed). They show seams, pockets, zips, cuffs, hems and any details. They don’t need to be artistic, just clear.
2. Measurements and size chart
The key measurements for each size, for example chest width, body length, sleeve length, shoulder, hem and cuff. Include the size range you want (such as XS–3XL). If you have a garment whose fit you love, measuring it is a great starting point.
3. Fabric and colour
The fabric type, fibre content and weight (for example “100% cotton fleece, 350 GSM”), plus your colours. A Pantone reference or a physical swatch is the most reliable way to communicate colour, since screens show colours differently.
4. Trims and components
Zips, buttons, drawcords, aglets, eyelets, elastic and ribbing, with colours and sizes where it matters. For example: “flat cotton drawcord, matching body colour, metal aglets”.
5. Artwork and placement
Your print or embroidery files (vector files such as AI, PDF or SVG work best), the decoration method, the size of each design and exactly where it goes, measured from a fixed point like the neck seam or centre front.
6. Labels and packaging
Neck label, care and composition label, hang tags, polybags and any special folding or packing. Remember that clothing sold to UK consumers must show its fibre composition.
7. Construction notes
Stitch types, seam finishes, any garment dye or wash, and anything else the factory should know, such as “drop shoulder, boxy fit” or “double-layered hood”.
Do I need a tech pack before contacting a manufacturer?
Not necessarily. A full tech pack is ideal, but plenty of new brands start with less. A reference garment you like, photos, a sketch and notes on what you’d change are a perfectly good starting point. A good manufacturer will ask the right questions and help you fill in the gaps before anything is cut.
What matters is that by the time your sample is approved, every detail is agreed in writing. That approved sample, together with your tech pack, becomes the standard your bulk order is checked against.
How a tech pack saves you money
- Fewer sample rounds: clear instructions mean the first sample is closer to right.
- Accurate quotes: a factory can only price what it can see. Missing details mean estimates that change later.
- Consistent reorders: when you restock, the same document produces the same product.
- Easier comparisons: sending the same tech pack to different manufacturers lets you compare like with like.
Have a design, but no tech pack?
Send us what you have, whether that’s a sketch, photos or a garment you love, and we’ll help you turn it into a sample.
How Sampling Works Request a Quote WhatsApp UsRead more: How to start a clothing brand · Cost of 200 hoodies · What is a tech pack? · DDP vs FOB · Finding a manufacturer · Sampling