How to Make a Tech Pack (and Get It Manufactured)

Why Tech Packs Matter

A tech pack is the bridge between your design vision and factory production. Factories work at scale, not intuition. They need exact specifications - measurements, material codes, color formulas, and placement coordinates. Without a clear tech pack, youre betting on your supplier guessing what you intended.

Core Components

Every professional tech pack includes:

• Product Name & Garment Type - Be specific. "Oversized heavyweight pullover hoodie, drop-shoulder" not just "hoodie."
• Fabric Specifications - Cotton percent, weight (gsm), blend ratio, wash treatment. Example: 100% combed cotton, 280 gsm, stone wash, softener finish.
• Color Palette - Include Pantone TCX code (textile standard), not TPX (paper). Never assume "navy" alone.
• Size Run - Which sizes? Standard XS-XXL or custom?
• Placement Details - Distance from seam, dimensions, technique (screen print, direct-to-garment, embroidery).
• Construction & Finishing - Seams, stitching, hardware, hang tags, packaging requirements.
• References & Mood Board - Attach images of similar products. If you have a fit sample, include photos.

Avoid Assumptions

New designers often assume factories can read between the lines. You might write: "I want a thick, high-quality stripe on the track jacket." The factory receives this and could produce anything from 2mm to 15mm piping.

The fix: Specify thickness (e.g., 2.5mm nylon piping), placement, and material. Show reference photos or send a sample garment. Factories respond to specificity, not hope.

Communicating Fit and Weight

Fit and fabric weight are hard to get right. "Oversized, high-quality hoodie" is vague. Your factory will ask:

• What weight (lightweight, mid-weight, heavyweight)?
• How oversized (10% drop, 20% drop)?
• What wash finish (raw, garment-dyed, pre-shrunk)?

Solution: If you have a benchmark garment with the exact fit and weight you want, send it as a reference. Factories can measure and reverse-engineer far more reliably than interpret vague adjectives.

Color Specification: TCX, Not TPX

Pantone has two systems. TCX is for textiles (garments). TPX is for paper. If you specify a TPX color for a jersey, factories struggle because TPX colors dont map to textile dyes.

Best practice: Use Pantone TCX codes. Include hex values for digital teams. For critical color accuracy, send a physical swatch or sample garment.

Sampling: Your Verification

Always sample before production. Verify:

• Color accuracy
• Fit and drape
• Construction quality (seams, stitching, finishing)
• Print/embroidery placement and quality

Budget 2-4 weeks for sampling, plus shipping. Costs: $65-$300 depending on complexity. Once approved, the sample becomes your production reference.

What Factories Need

Factories run on clarity:

• Exact fabric specs (material sourcing)
• Exact colors (correct dyeing)
• Exact placement (aligned prints/embroidery)
• Exact quantity (production run size)
• Timeline (production scheduling)

A well-documented tech pack with references means fewer questions, faster turnarounds, and better results.

AI Tech Packs: Save Days, Not Years

Building a tech pack from scratch takes days: sketching, collecting references, writing specs. AI generators accelerate this:

• Upload design images (up to 4) of your concept or reference garments
• AI extracts specs - garment type, fabric appearance, color palette (Pantone TCX), placement
• Instant draft - a complete tech pack ready for refinement
• Instant quote - sample costs and production estimates

AI handles tedious documentation. You focus on review, refinement, approval. For new designers, this cuts weeks off the design-to-sample timeline.

Revisions and Iteration

Tech packs rarely come out perfect first. Common revisions: color swaps, fit adjustments, placement tweaks, construction changes. Budget for at least one revision round before full production. Revisions typically cost $50-$200 depending on scope.

From Tech Pack to Production

1. Factory confirms PO - Quantity, timeline, cost locked
2. Fabric sourcing - Factory secures materials (1-2 weeks)
3. Cutting & sewing - Bulk production (2-8 weeks)
4. QC inspection - Random sampling for quality verification
5. Packing & shipping - Final inspection, logistics (1-2 weeks)

Total: 8-16 weeks from PO to delivery. Expedited options (higher cost) can shorten to 4-6 weeks.

Bottom Line

A tech pack is not optional-it is the contract between your vision and the factory execution. Specificity and clarity win. Vague descriptions lose.

Use tools and resources to accelerate. Get your first sample right, and production becomes clear.

Ready to Create Your Tech Pack?

Alan King Groups free AI generator handles the heavy lifting. Upload your design, get an instant draft, and well guide you through refinement to production.