What Is a Tech Pack? (And Why Your Factory Needs One)
If your samples keep coming back wrong, there's a good chance it's not your factory's fault. It's the documentation.
A tech pack is the single most important file you'll send to a manufacturer. Get it right and your samples come back closer. Get it wrong — or skip it entirely — and you're stuck in an expensive back-and-forth that eats your timeline and your budget.
Here's exactly what a tech pack is, what goes in one, and why fashion brands that take production seriously don't skip this step.
What is a tech pack?
A tech pack (short for technical package) is a detailed document that tells your factory exactly how to make your garment. Think of it as a blueprint for your clothing manufacturer.
It covers everything from construction and measurements to fabric specs, labelling, and trims. Without it, your factory is essentially guessing — and even great factories don't guess well.
What's inside a good tech pack for fashion brands?
A proper tech pack isn't just a flat sketch. It's a full set of production documents that covers every detail your manufacturer needs to sample and produce your garment correctly.
Here's what should be in it:
Tech sketch A clean, detailed flat drawing of your garment — front and back. This is created from your reference images or AI mockups and approved before anything else moves forward.
Construction notes How the garment is built. How it closes. Whether it's lined. Seam types, hem finish, topstitching detail. The things a factory won't know unless you tell them.
Fabrication page Your fabric direction — fibre content, GSM, blend, finish. This is where you guide the factory on what they should be sourcing, so you're not just getting whatever they have on hand.
Measurements Specified measurements per sample size so your factory has exact numbers to work to. Not "Australian size 8 small" — actual centimetre callouts for every key point of measure.
Size chart Your brand's full size chart. This tells the factory how your range should fit across all sizes, so there's a consistent benchmark from day one.
Bill of Materials (BOM) Every single component — interfacing, zips, buttons, labels, trims. An extra checkpoint to make sure nothing gets forgotten or substituted without your approval.
Labelling requirements Care labels, brand labels, country of origin. If your labels are already sorted, this section just confirms placement and spec.
Why does a tech pack matter?
Every section of a tech pack is a checkpoint.
If it's documented and the factory hasn't done it, you have grounds to push back and request a re-sample at no charge. Without that documentation, there's nothing to hold them accountable to.
A tech pack also speeds everything up. The clearer your files, the fewer rounds of sampling you need. Most brands end up doing two samples regardless — but without a tech pack, you can easily end up at four or five and still not be there.
What happens without one?
A few things tend to go wrong:
Samples come back in the wrong silhouette because the factory interpreted an image differently than you intended
Measurements are off because you said "size small" and their small isn't your small
Fabric comes back wrong because you didn't specify GSM or fibre content
Details get missed entirely because they weren't written down anywhere
These aren't factory mistakes. They're communication gaps.
Do I need a tech pack if I'm just starting out?
Yes — especially if you're just starting out.
The earlier you get into the habit of documenting your designs properly, the fewer expensive mistakes you make. A good tech pack protects you, gives your factory clarity, and makes your brand look professional from the first email you send.
It also means that when something does come back wrong, you have a paper trail.
How to get a tech pack made
If you have design experience and the right software, you can build your own. But for most new fashion brands, the fastest and most reliable option is to work with someone who does this regularly and knows what factories actually need to see.
At FashionFanBase, I create custom tech packs for fashion brands at every stage — from first-time founders with a rough AI mockup and a few reference images, through to established labels who need production-ready files fast.
I also offer consulting support if you need help interpreting supplier feedback, reviewing samples, or working out what to do next.
Ready to send your factory a file they can actually build from?
Order a custom tech pack → Book a consult → Or grab a 15-minute Power Session if you just need a quick answer →
FashionFanBase is a technical design and consulting service for fashion brands. Founder Bree Hay-Hendry has 15+ years of experience in fashion design, tech packs, and offshore production.
