A perfect sample doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by design. And the blueprint for that design is your Tech Pack. A clear, comprehensive tech pack is the single most important factor in transforming your vision into a tangible product you’ll love.
Think of your tech pack as the ultimate instruction manual for your manufacturer. Ambiguity here leads to wasted time, unexpected costs, and samples that miss the mark. Follow this guide to create a tech pack that sets everyone up for success.
1. The Foundation: Flat Sketch & Design Details
This is the visual heart of your tech pack.
- What to Include:
- Flat, Technical Drawings: Not a mood board or a stylized illustration. Provide clean, black-and-white line drawings of the garment from the front, back, and side. Every seam, dart, and stitch line should be visible.
- Multiple Views: Include close-up “callouts” for complex details like pockets, cuffs, plackets, and unique stitching.
- Digital Files: Use vector-based files (like Adobe Illustrator .ai) when possible, as they can be scaled without losing quality.
- Pro Tip: Annotate the sketches directly. Use numbers or letters to label each component and refer to them in your construction notes.
2. The Blueprint: Garment Measurements & Grading
This section removes all guesswork about fit.
- What to Include:
- Detailed Measurement Spec Sheet (POMs): Create a table listing every single Point of Measure (POM). This goes beyond just chest and length. Include armhole depth, sleeve opening, cuff width, neckline width/depth, and any other critical dimensions.
- Clear Grading: Provide the measurements for your base size (e.g., Medium) and include the grade rules for how those measurements should increase or decrease for other sizes (S, L, XL).
- Tolerance: Specify the acceptable tolerance for each measurement (e.g., ±0.5 cm).
- Pro Tip: Don’t just copy measurements from an existing garment. Provide the ideal measurements for your specific design and fit model.
3. The Materials List: Bill of Materials (BOM)
This is your ingredient list. Be specific.
- What to Include:
- Main Fabric: Specify composition (e.g., 100% Cotton), weight (GSM), knit/woven type, and finish (e.g., brushed, garment-dyed).
- Trims: List every single component: zippers (type, size, color), buttons (material, size, color), drawcords, elastic (width), interlining, etc.
- Labels: Include care labels, size tags, and brand labels. Provide the exact text and placement.
- Pro Tip: Attach physical swatches of your chosen fabrics and trims to the tech pack or send them to your manufacturer. This is non-negotiable for color and texture accuracy.
4. The Construction Guide: Stitching & Assembly Notes
How is this garment actually put together?
- What to Include:
- Stitch Types: Specify the stitch type for different seams (e.g., overlock for side seams, coverstitch for hems).
- Seam Allowance: State the seam allowance (e.g., 1cm) for critical areas.
- Special Instructions: Detail any specific construction techniques, like “flatlock seam on shoulders” or “bar tack at pocket corners for reinforcement.”
- Pro Tip: Use photos from existing garments or detailed sketches to illustrate complex construction details. A picture is worth a thousand words.
5. The Color & Print Guide: Artwork & Placement
Ensure your colors and graphics are reproduced accurately.
- What to Include:
- Color Codes: For each colorway, provide Pantone (PMS) codes for solid colors. For prints, provide CMYK or RGB values along with a high-resolution, scaled repeatable file.
- Print Placement: For graphics, provide a separate diagram showing the exact placement and size of the print on the garment. Don’t just say “center chest”—provide measurements from the top of the garment and the center line.
- Pro Tip: Understand that colors on a screen are not accurate. Pantone swatches and physical printed lab dips are the only true way to communicate color.
Your Tech Pack is an Investment
Spending extra time perfecting your tech pack is the highest-return activity in the pre-production phase. It prevents the costly cycle of “sample, feedback, re-sample” and gets you to a production-ready garment faster.
At Sirui Apparel, we don’t just passively receive your tech pack—we actively review it. We provide feedback to clarify ambiguities and flag potential production issues before they become costly mistakes. We partner with you to refine your tech pack into a bulletproof document that guarantees a perfect sample.
Ready to create a tech pack that delivers flawless results? Send us your tech pack for a free, no-obligation review. Let’s ensure your first sample is your best sample.
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