Quick answer: A tech pack is the instruction document a clothing manufacturer uses to make your garment. It contains technical flat sketches, a measurement chart with tolerances, a bill of materials, construction and stitching details, colourways, artwork placement, labelling and packing instructions. A complete tech pack means fewer sample rounds, accurate quotations and bulk production that matches your design.
What a tech pack is for
Designs are visual; production is technical. A tech pack translates your idea into measurements and instructions that a pattern maker, a cutter and a sewing line can follow without guessing. It also becomes the written reference for what you approved, which matters if something goes wrong in bulk. Terms such as BOM, POM and PP sample are explained in our clothing manufacturing glossary.
What to include in a tech pack
| Section | What it contains | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Cover page | Style name and number, season, brand, date, version, contact | Keeps versions and styles apart |
| Technical flats | Front and back line drawings, plus close-ups of details | Shows exactly what to make |
| Measurement chart | Points of measure for your base size, graded sizes and tolerances | Controls fit across sizes |
| Bill of materials | Fabrics, linings, interlinings, thread, zips, buttons, elastic, labels, with composition, weight and supplier if known | Drives sourcing and cost |
| Construction details | Seam types, stitch types and density, seam allowances, hem finishes | Decides durability and look |
| Colourways | Colours for fabric and trims per colourway, with Pantone or lab dip references | Prevents colour mistakes |
| Artwork and placement | Print or embroidery files, sizes and exact positions | Keeps branding consistent |
| Labels and packaging | Main, care and size labels, hang tags, polybags, folding and carton marking | Finishes the product as your brand |
| Size breakdown | Quantity per size and colour for the order | Needed for cutting and quotation |
How to build a tech pack step by step
- Draw the flats. Clean front and back line drawings, without models or shading, plus detail views of collars, pockets and closures.
- Choose a base size. Measure a garment that fits the way you want, or use your size chart, and record each point of measure.
- Add tolerances. State how much each measurement may vary, smaller for critical points such as waist and chest.
- List every material. Fabric composition and weight, linings, threads and every trim with size and colour.
- Describe construction. Seam and stitch types for each seam, hem finishes, and anything unusual.
- Define colourways and artwork. Colours per component, artwork files and placement measurements.
- Specify labels and packaging. Label positions and content, including fibre composition, and how garments are folded and packed.
- Version it. Date every update and keep a change log, so everyone works from the same file.
Common tech pack mistakes
- Measurements without tolerances, or with points of measure that are not defined.
- Fabric described only by a photo, without composition and weight.
- Trims left out of the bill of materials, discovered only at sampling.
- Several versions in circulation without dates.
- Label content missing the legally required fibre composition. In the EU, fibre names must follow Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011; see our EU compliance guide.
Do you need a tech pack to start?
No. A tech pack speeds things up, but many brands start with sketches, photos or a reference garment. A manufacturer can make the pattern and a first sample from those, and the details are then fixed during sampling and written into the bulk order form. Our sampling guide explains that process, and our startup page shows how we help brands without a tech pack.
Tech pack checklist
- Style name, number, version and date
- Front, back and detail flats
- Measurement chart with points of measure and tolerances for all sizes
- Bill of materials with composition, weight, colour and supplier
- Seam, stitch and hem specifications
- Colourways with colour references
- Artwork files with sizes and placement
- Label content and positions, including fibre composition and care
- Packing and carton instructions
- Quantities per size and colour
Send your tech pack to Ermi Tekstil
We are a clothing manufacturer in Turkey, based in Güngören, Istanbul. Send your tech pack, sketches or reference garments through the contact form, and we will reply with questions, then prepare an estimated quotation and a sample. We produce private label and cut and sew collections with low minimums per style; see our MOQ guide and cost guide to plan the order.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tech pack in fashion?
A technical document that tells a manufacturer how to make a garment: flat sketches, measurements with tolerances, materials, construction details, colourways, artwork, labels and packing.
What file format should a tech pack be?
A PDF is the most common format because it opens everywhere and keeps the layout. Send artwork as separate vector files, and keep an editable version yourself for updates.
Can a manufacturer make a tech pack for me?
Many manufacturers can develop the pattern and specifications from your sketches or a reference garment during sampling. Whoever makes it, keep a copy of the final, approved specifications.
How detailed should measurements be?
Detailed enough that two different pattern makers would produce the same garment: every point of measure defined, measured the same way, with a tolerance for each.
Does a tech pack reduce cost?
Yes, indirectly. Clear specifications reduce sample rounds, avoid misunderstandings in bulk and make quotations accurate, which saves time and money.
