The Complete Tech Pack Guide for Clothing Brands: What to Include + Free Template

What Exactly Is a Tech Pack (and Why Should You Care)?

A tech pack (short for technical package) is a comprehensive document that contains every single specification a manufacturer needs to produce your garment. It is the operating manual for your design, the bill of materials, the measurement chart, and the quality checklist, all in one.

Think of it as a contract. When you and the factory both sign off on the tech pack, you have a shared reference point for everything that should happen during production. If something goes wrong, you can pull up the document and show exactly where the manufacturer deviated from your spec.

Your Garment's Single Source of Truth

Different teams use the tech pack in different ways. Designers and brand owners capture the original intent. Technical designers translate that intent into specific measurements and construction notes. Factory merchandisers coordinate sourcing, sampling, and approvals based on the BOM. Quality teams verify measurements and tolerances against the finished goods. When the document is clear and current, every new sample feels like a controlled experiment, not a surprise.

The 3 Things a Good Tech Pack Prevents

• ✓ Endless sample revisions. A good tech pack gets you to an approved sample in 1-2 rounds. A bad one (or no tech pack) can mean 5+ rounds, weeks of delay, and thousands in wasted material.
• ✓ Quote inflation and hidden fees. Factories can only give you an accurate quote when they have the full BOM, fabric consumption, and construction details. Without them, the price will go up once production starts.
• ✓ Quality inconsistency between runs. If you cannot reference an approved spec, every new bulk order becomes a fresh round of guesswork for the production team.

Section 1 — The Cover Page: Project Identity

The cover page is the simplest part of the tech pack, but it is also the most important for version control. It tells everyone, including the factory, the merchandiser, and future-you, exactly which style you are talking about.

Include the following six elements:

• ✓ Brand name (e.g., VANRD)
• ✓ Style name and number (e.g., "Urban Hoodie" / "UM-H001")
• ✓ Season (e.g., FW2026 or SS27)
• ✓ Designer or contact name
• ✓ Date of creation
• ✓ Version number (start at v1, increment with every change)

Section 2 — Technical Flats (CAD Sketches)

Technical flats are not fashion illustrations. They are precise line drawings that show the manufacturer exactly what the garment looks like from the front, back, and any relevant detail views.

Front View + Back View

Every tech pack must include a front and back flat sketch. These are the two most important views. They establish the silhouette, the seam placements, the pocket positions, and the overall proportions. Skip the artistic flourishes — no shading, no dramatic poses, no stylized figures. Use clean lines and consistent stroke weights.

Detail Callouts

For any area that is too small or too complex to show clearly in the main views, add a detail callout. Common callout areas include collars, cuffs, plackets, pocket construction, zipper details, buttonholes, and any unusual stitching patterns. The callout should be a zoomed-in view with annotation lines pointing back to the main sketch, and a brief written note describing what is shown.

What Makes a Good Flat Sketch

Manufacturers interpret flat sketches literally. If your sketch shows a stitch that does not actually exist, the factory will sew it. If your proportions are off, the garment will be off. The best flat sketches are proportional, clean, and unambiguous. Some brands use software like Adobe Illustrator, CLO 3D, or even hand-drawing with consistent templates. The medium matters less than the clarity.

Section 3 — Bill of Materials (BOM)

The BOM is the most financially important section of the tech pack. It is a complete list of every component that goes into making your garment, from fabric to the last thread.

For each item, specify:

• ✓ Material type (e.g., French Terry, 320 GSM)
• ✓ Composition (e.g., 80% cotton / 20% polyester)
• ✓ Weight or thickness (GSM for knits, thread count for wovens)
• ✓ Color reference (Pantone code or color name)
• ✓ Supplier or source (if known)
• ✓ Quantity per unit (consumption)

Common BOM items include shell fabric, lining fabric, interlining, thread, buttons, zippers, snaps, eyelets, elastics, labels, hang tags, and packaging materials.

Why BOM Prevents Last-Minute Price Hikes

Without a BOM, factories quote based on rough estimates. Once they start production and discover your design has six different trims and a custom zipper pull, the price goes up. With a complete BOM, you get a quote that reflects the true cost, and you can negotiate based on real numbers instead of guesswork. Explore VANRD's custom garment services to see how detailed BOMs translate into accurate pricing.

Section 4 — Measurement Spec Sheet (The Backbone)

Most fit problems come back to a poorly written spec sheet. This is the section that defines the actual size and fit of your garment across all sizes in your range.

Points of Measure (POM)

Every measurement you list should be a defined point of measure. Do not just say "chest width" — say "chest width: 2.5 cm below armhole, seam to seam, measured flat on a flat surface." That level of detail removes ambiguity and ensures everyone measures the same way.

Common POMs for tops include chest width, body length, shoulder width, sleeve length, neck opening, and hem width. For bottoms, you would add waist, hip, inseam, outseam, thigh, knee, and leg opening. For outerwear, add additional points for sleeve circumference, hood depth, and pocket placement.

Tolerance Ranges

Every measurement should have a tolerance. The standard for apparel is ±1 cm for most points, with tighter tolerances (±0.5 cm) for critical fit areas like neck opening or shoulder width. Tolerances allow for normal production variation while keeping quality consistent.

Grading Rules

Grading rules define how each measurement changes between sizes. A standard grade for a men's tee might be 2 cm between sizes for chest and body length. A more complex garment like a fitted jacket might have different grades for different points (e.g., 2 cm chest, 1.5 cm shoulder, 1 cm length).

Do not copy grading rules from the internet. Fit is brand-specific and fabric-dependent. Start from your base size, your fit model, or a previously approved style, then confirm with your factory what tolerances and grades work for your specific fabric and construction.

Section 5 — Construction & Sewing Details

The construction section tells the factory exactly how to assemble your garment. This is where the difference between a $20 t-shirt and a $40 t-shirt is decided.

For each construction area, specify:

• ✓ Stitch type (e.g., 4-thread overlock, coverstitch, lockstitch)
• ✓ Stitch density (e.g., 12 stitches per inch)
• ✓ Seam allowance (e.g., 1 cm for serged seams, 1.5 cm for topstitched seams)
• ✓ Seam finish (e.g., overlock, serged, flat-felled, bound)
• ✓ Hem type (e.g., blind hem, double-fold hem, coverstitch hem)
• ✓ Reinforcement points (e.g., bar tacks at pocket corners, extra stitching at stress points)

Add construction callouts directly on your flat sketches. Show seam directions, stitch placements, and any special construction areas. This visual approach is faster to read than a separate written description.

Section 6 — Colorways & Trim Specifications

Color is one of the most common sources of production error. "I wanted navy blue" turns into "the factory sent me royal blue" because the spec said only "navy" without a Pantone code.

Pantone Codes and Lab Dips

Always specify a Pantone code for every color in the design. Pantone is the universal color matching system used across the apparel industry, and a specific code removes the guesswork from color interpretation. After the factory receives your spec, they will produce a lab dip (a small fabric swatch dyed to your spec) for your approval before bulk dyeing begins. Do not skip this step. Approving a lab dip protects you from receiving thousands of garments in the wrong color.

Trim Specifications

For hardware and trims, be specific. Instead of "YKK zipper," write "YKK 5# coil zipper, 55 cm length, matte black auto-lock pull." Instead of "branded button," write "20 mm metal shank button, brushed nickel finish, custom logo engraved." The more detail you provide, the closer the result will match your vision.

Section 7 — Labeling, Branding & Packaging

Your brand identity lives in the details — and the details are written in this section of the tech pack.

Label Placement

Specify the placement of every label on the garment: the main brand label (typically on the inside back neck or waistband), the size label, the care label, the country-of-origin label, and any secondary branding elements. For each, note the size, the material, and the exact placement measured from a reference point (e.g., "main label: 2 cm below back neck seam, centered").

Packaging Instructions

Include folding method, polybag type and size, how many garments per polybag, how many per carton, hang tag placement, barcode sticker placement, and any retail packaging requirements. The way your garment is presented at retail affects brand perception, and the factory needs to know your standards up front.

Packaging That Reflects Your Brand

A folded t-shirt in a plain polybag gets the job done. A folded t-shirt in a custom printed tissue, with a branded sticker on the polybag, and a thank-you card on top — that is a brand experience. Decide what level of presentation your target market expects, and write it into the tech pack.

8 Common Tech Pack Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

After reviewing thousands of tech packs from brands of all sizes, the same issues show up again and again. Avoid these and you will be ahead of 90% of first-time brand founders.

• 1 Incomplete measurements. If you only list chest and body length, the factory has to guess the rest. List every point of measure relevant to your garment type.
• 2 Inconsistent units. Mixing centimeters and inches in the same document creates conversion errors. Pick one and stick with it.
• 3 Vague language. "Approximately," "similar to," "TBD" — these all lead to the factory filling in the gap with their own assumptions. Be specific or leave it blank for the factory to confirm.
• 4 Missing BOM quantities. Without consumption estimates, the factory cannot accurately calculate fabric needs or quote you a final price.
• 5 No version control. Sending v3 when the factory has v1 in their files leads to arguments. Always include the version number on the cover and in the file name.
• 6 Skipping the lab dip. Approving a color from a Pantone number on a screen is not the same as approving a dyed fabric swatch. Always require a lab dip before bulk dyeing.
• 7 No construction callouts on sketches. Written construction notes without visual callouts force the factory to interpret. Add callouts directly to your flat sketches for clarity.
• 8 Updating the tech pack after production starts. Every change mid-production creates cost and delay. Finalize the tech pack before sampling, and only make critical updates.

Conclusion — A Good Tech Pack Is Your First Step to a Great Manufacturer Relationship

Frequently Asked Questions

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