What is a tech pack? A plain-language guide for new fashion brands

A tech pack is the instruction manual a factory uses to sample, quote and produce your garment. Learn what goes in it, why it saves money and how to make one for free.

Updated 1 October 2026 · By Hem Apparel

A tech pack (technical package) is the instruction manual for your garment. It tells a factory exactly what to make: the shape, the fabric, every measurement in every size, how each seam is sewn, where the logo goes and how the finished piece is folded and packed. Factories use it to quote a price, sew the first sample and later reproduce the same product thousands of times.

Why a tech pack matters

• Fewer sample rounds. Every missing detail becomes a question, a guess or a wrong sample. Each extra round costs weeks and shipping fees.
• Accurate quotes. A factory can only price what it can see: fabric weight, trims, print methods and quantities all change the cost.
• Consistent bulk production. The tech pack is the reference both sides check against when the order is inspected.
• Protection for you. When the written spec says 56 cm ±1 cm and the goods measure 60 cm, the discussion is short.

What goes into a tech pack

1. Product overview: style name, style code, category, fit, season and size range.
2. Flat sketches: technical front and back drawings with numbered call-outs for special details.
3. Colorways: each colour version with a Pantone reference (TCX for cotton).
4. Bill of materials (BOM): main fabric with fibre content and GSM, rib, thread, labels, trims and packaging.
5. Measurement spec: points of measure for every size, grading rules and tolerances.
6. Construction details: seam and stitch types, seam allowances and stitches per inch.
7. Artwork: print or embroidery method, size and exact placement from a fixed point.
8. Labels: main label, size label, care label and hangtag with placement and content.
9. Quantity by colorway: how many pieces per colour and size.
10. Quality call-outs: defects you will reject, ideally with right and wrong photos.
11. Packaging: folding method, polybag, cartons and size ratio per carton.

The details factories ask about most

If you only get a few things right, make it these: fabric fibre content and weight (GSM), a measurement spec with tolerances, the Pantone code for each colour, and the size and position of every print. They decide the price and the look of the sample more than anything else.

Common mistakes

• Describing colours in words ("off-white") instead of a Pantone code.
• Giving measurements without saying where and how they are taken.
• Leaving out tolerances, so nobody knows what counts as a defect.
• Placing artwork "on the chest" without a distance from the collar or centre front.
• Sending a photo of a garment you like instead of a spec of the garment you want.

Do I need Illustrator or Excel?

No. Techpack Studio walks you through every section, pre-fills measurements and materials for common garments, gives you ready-made flat sketches and checks for missing details before you export a PDF. It is free, needs no account and keeps your work in your own browser.