Why tech packs matter
Factories quote and sample from what is written down. When details are missing, the factory has to guess — and every guess is a potential revision, delay or cost change later.
A good tech pack doesn’t need special software. A clear PDF or spreadsheet with consistent version numbers works; what matters is that every decision is recorded in one place.
The 9 sections
- Cover sheet — style name and number, season, category, size range, target quantity and target price, and a revision date.
- Flat sketches — front, back and close-up technical drawings (not fashion illustrations), with callouts for every feature.
- Bill of materials (BOM) — main fabric, lining, rib, interlining, thread, zippers, buttons, drawcords, labels, with composition, weight and supplier reference if known.
- Measurement spec (points of measure) — how and where each measurement is taken, the sample-size values and a tolerance for each point.
- Grading — the increments between sizes, or a full graded size chart.
- Construction details — seam types, stitch types and stitches per inch, seam allowances, topstitching, hem finishes and reinforcement points.
- Colorways — each color of every component, referenced to a color standard such as Pantone TCX or a physical swatch.
- Artwork & placement — logo files (vector), decoration method, size and exact position measured from a fixed point such as the high-point shoulder or centre front.
- Labels, packaging & revision log — label content and placement, folding, polybag and carton requirements, plus a log of every change and sample comment.
Measure placements from a fixed reference point, not “centered on chest” — “8 cm below the high-point shoulder, centred” leaves nothing to interpretation.
Common mistakes
- Measurements without tolerances — the factory can’t tell what counts as a pass.
- Colors described in words only (“forest green”) instead of a standard or swatch.
- Several files in circulation with no version number, so sample comments get lost.
- Low-resolution raster logos instead of vector artwork.
- Trims left as “TBC” until after sampling, which changes both cost and lead time.
No tech pack yet?
You can still start. A reference garment you like, photos with notes, or a sketch plus target measurements gives a development team enough to build a first draft. Expect an extra round of back-and-forth to turn that into a factory-ready pack.
Our ODM team can build the tech pack from your references. (Placeholder — adapt to your actual services.)
Quick checklist
- Every component in the BOM has composition and weight.
- Every point of measure has a tolerance.
- Every color references a standard or a physical swatch.
- Artwork is vector, with size and position measured from a fixed point.
- The file has a version number and a change log.
Have a sketch but no tech pack?
Send what you have — references, photos or sketches — and we’ll tell you what’s missing.
Send your references
