What Is a Tech Pack?
A tech pack (or technical specification sheet) is the document that brings together all the technical information a workshop needs to produce a garment exactly as you designed it. It is the common language between designers, brands, and manufacturers.
Without a clear tech pack, the workshop works on assumptions. With a good tech pack, the margin for error drops to nearly zero.
What Should a Complete Tech Pack Include?
1. General Garment Information
- Style name and reference code
- Season and production year
- Category (t-shirt, jacket, trousers, etc.)
- Gender and size range
2. Technical Sketches (Flats)
Flat illustrations of the garment from the front, back, and key details. They should be to scale and in black and white for clarity. You can create them in Adobe Illustrator, Canva, or even by hand if they are precise enough.
3. Material Specifications
- Main fabric: composition, weight, finish (e.g. 100% Pima cotton 180 g/m², jersey knit)
- Secondary fabrics: lining, binding, interfacing
- Trims: threads, buttons, zippers, labels, hangtags, polybags
- Colors: Pantone references or physical swatches
4. Measurement Chart (Grading)
This is the most critical section of the tech pack. It includes exact measurements for each size (S, M, L, XL or your scale) and the acceptable tolerance (typically ±0.5 cm for knitwear and ±1 cm for wovens).
5. Construction and Stitching
- Stitch type by area (overlock, coverstitch, flatlock)
- Stitch length and density
- Finishing instructions (hems, binding, reinforcements)
6. Print or Embroidery Details
If the garment features graphics, logos, or embroidery, include: exact position, size, colors, and technique (screen printing, sublimation, computerized embroidery, etc.).
7. Labeling and Packaging
- Position and type of size and composition label
- Care instructions
- Folding method and polybag type
- Price tag or barcode (if applicable)
Common Mistakes That Delay Production
- Incomplete measurements: specifying only size S and expecting the workshop to grade the rest without instructions.
- Color references without Pantone: "navy blue" can mean 10 different colors to 10 different workshops.
- Unspecified trims: the workshop will choose the most economical available option if you do not detail brand, thickness, or finish.
- No tolerances defined: without acceptance ranges, any minor deviation can lead to batch rejection.
Do I Need a Perfect Tech Pack to Get Started?
No. At Confecciones Roly we work with brands at various levels of technical maturity. If you have a clear idea but have not yet mastered technical formats, you can send us a physical reference garment, sketches or reference images, or a detailed written description.
Our team helps translate your concept into a technical specification during the quoting process. The first sample is the starting point for refining every detail.