A tech pack — short for technical package — is the document that communicates your garment specification to a manufacturer. Without a clear tech pack, manufacturers cannot produce your garment accurately, costs increase through revision cycles, and sampling takes longer than necessary.

This guide walks through every section of a clothing tech pack, what to include and common mistakes to avoid.

What is a Tech Pack?

A tech pack is a detailed specification document that tells a manufacturer exactly how to produce your garment. It covers measurements, materials, construction methods, decoration placement, labelling requirements and packaging details. A complete tech pack eliminates ambiguity and gives your manufacturer everything they need to produce an accurate sample on the first attempt.

A well-written tech pack reduces sampling rounds from 3–4 iterations to 1–2. Every extra sample round adds 7–12 working days to your timeline and costs money.

Section 1: Cover Page

The cover page identifies the document and the product. Include: your brand name, garment style name and style number, season or collection, date of issue, version number (important — always version-control your tech packs), and manufacturer contact if known.

Section 2: Technical Sketch (Flat Drawing)

A flat technical sketch shows the garment from the front and back in a flat, proportional view — not a fashion illustration. It should show all construction details: seam lines, pocket positions, label placement, drawcord routing, ribbing, zippers and any other construction features. Your sketch does not need to be a work of art — clarity is what matters.

Section 3: Measurement Chart

This is the most critical section. The measurement chart specifies the exact finished garment measurements for every size you are producing. Key measurements for a hoodie include: chest width, body length, sleeve length, sleeve opening, shoulder width, hood height, hood width, front rise, hem width and cuff width.

Measurements should be in centimetres. Specify whether measurements are half-chest or full-chest — this is a common source of confusion and error. Include a grading table showing how measurements increase or decrease between sizes.

Section 4: Material Callouts

List every material used in the garment with its full specification:

Section 5: Construction Details

Specify seam types, stitch types and stitch counts for each seam on the garment. Common specifications include: overlock stitch for side seams, flatlock for shoulder seams, coverstitch for hem finishing. If you have a reference garment with construction you want to match, include photographs of the interior seam finishing.

Section 6: Colourways

Specify colours using Pantone references wherever possible. If you do not have Pantone references, include physical fabric swatches or high-quality photographs. Specify all colour combinations: body colour, rib colour, drawcord colour, zipper colour, label colour. Never leave colour to interpretation.

Section 7: Artwork and Decoration

For any print or embroidery, include: artwork files (vector format — AI or EPS preferred), exact placement measurements from garment reference points, size of artwork, colour breakdown (Pantone references for each colour in the design), decoration technique (embroidery, screen print, heat transfer etc.).

Section 8: Labels and Packaging

Specify all labelling requirements: woven neck label (artwork file, placement), brand label, size label, care/wash label (content and care symbols), hangtag (artwork, attachment method), polybag size and printing requirements, master carton requirements.

Common Tech Pack Mistakes

If you are a new brand without experience writing tech packs, a reputable manufacturer will assist you in developing one from your concept or reference garment. This is a normal part of the onboarding process and is not something you need to get perfect before approaching a factory.