Tech Packs 101: Why Every Fashion Brand Needs This Production Blueprint
- Rachel Erickson
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
If you’re launching or scaling an apparel brand, you’re likely focused on big-picture goals: growing your audience, building a collection, and hitting sales targets. But when it comes to turning your vision into reality, there’s one non-negotiable step in the apparel production process that too many brands overlook: the tech pack.
Skipping or rushing through your tech pack is like building a house without blueprints. Sure, something might get made—but it likely won’t be what you envisioned, and it’ll cost you more in time, money, and frustration than you expect.
Let’s walk through what a tech pack for fashion brands actually is, why it's essential, and how to create one that sets you up for scalable, high-quality production.
What Is a Tech Pack in Fashion?
A tech pack (short for technical package) is a detailed document that outlines every specification a manufacturer needs to produce your garment accurately. Think of it as your clothing blueprint or garment instruction manual.
Your tech pack should include everything from:
Measurements and grading
Materials and trims
Construction details
Colorways
Fit comments and changes
Revision logs
Whether you’re producing 50 or 50,000 units, a complete and clear garment specification sheet ensures your factory has everything it needs to get it right the first time.
Why Every Fashion Brand Needs a Tech Pack
1. Tech Packs Save You Money
When your manufacturer guesses wrong on fabric type or construction, you're looking at costly revisions, sample rounds, and delays. A fashion tech pack minimizes back-and-forth, prevents expensive errors, and allows for more accurate price quoting.
2. They Speed Up the Development Process
Factories love working with prepared brands. Providing a tech pack shows you’re professional and serious. The clearer your documentation, the faster your clothing manufacturing process moves.
3. They Ensure Product Consistency
From size accuracy to stitch placement, tech packs protect your brand's quality—batch after batch, season after season. This consistency is key to customer trust and loyalty.
4. They’re Essential for Quality Control
Your tech pack becomes your benchmark during sampling and production. When something’s off, your tech pack gives you the proof to identify and fix it.
What to Include in Your Fashion Tech Pack
A professional tech pack typically includes the following pages and elements:
Cover Page – Style name, sketch, season, sample size, factory info
Color CADs – Digital colorways with Pantone codes
Technical Sketches – Close-ups of collars, cuffs, or specialty details
Bill of Materials (BOM) – Fabrics, threads, trims, labels, etc.
Graded Specs – Garment measurements by size
Fit Comments – Notes and images from prototype reviews
Grade Rules – Your size progression logic
Change Log – History of all updates and approvals
Tech Pack Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced brands fall into these traps:
Forgetting trims or color specs in the BOM
Using vague instructions or unclear sketches
Skipping fit comments from sample reviews
Not updating the change log
Leaving out graded measurements
A good apparel tech pack isn’t just detailed—it’s easy for your manufacturer to follow.
Don’t Have a Technical Designer? No Problem.
Even if you’re a solo founder or small team, you don’t need to be a technical designer to create a tech pack. There are tools and templates designed specifically for startups and emerging brands (like the ones we offer here).
The key is structure. A template provides the framework—you simply plug in your garment’s information and visuals.
Final Thoughts: Your Tech Pack is Your Brand's Blueprint
If you want to produce high-quality garments, reduce returns, and build a brand that lasts, skipping the tech pack is not an option. It’s not just about documentation—it’s about creating a scalable foundation for your product and your business.
So, whether you’re developing your first prototype or refining a bestseller, invest the time to get your tech pack right. Your future self—and your factory—will thank you.
Want More Help?
We’ve been breaking down tech pack creation page-by-page over on our YouTube Channel. Check it out for visual guides, walkthroughs, and real-life examples.
Or if you're ready to get started now, download our Tech Pack Template to build yours with confidence.
Let’s bring your vision to life—one page at a time.
