What is a Tech Pack? A Complete Guide for Apparel Brands

What is a Tech Pack?

A tech pack — short for technical package — is the essential document that bridges the gap between design and production to ensure there is no difference between what you imagine and what is actually made. It is the single most important file sent to a factory, containing all information needed to produce high-quality garments accurately and consistently.

Think of it like an architectural blueprint for a building, including detailed specifications for materials and assembly. Without a standardized document acting as a common language between designers, pattern makers, and factories, a design will be interpreted differently by different people. A precise tech pack allows a factory on the other side of the world to produce exactly what you visualized in your studio.

Fashion brands use tech packs for every new style each season, updating them with every fitting, design revision, or material change. For most brands, managing this process is one of the most time-consuming parts of product development.

What does a tech pack include?

A complete tech pack typically contains the following components:

Technical drawings (flats). Clean drawings of front and back (usually made in Adobe Illustrator) without shading or perspective. These are primary visual references. Every seam, pocket, opening, and stitch detail must be clearly shown.

Measurement specifications (POM). A chart of dimensions (length, chest, waist, sleeve, hem, opening widths, etc.) for all sizes, including tolerances (allowable deviations). Most production errors happen here if details are missing or ambiguous.

Bill of Materials (BOM). All materials in the garment: shell fabric, lining, interfacing, thread, buttons, zippers, labels, hang tags, and packaging — with fabric composition, weight, color references (usually Pantone codes), and supplier info.

Construction details. Notes and diagrams specifying assembly: seam types, stitch density, hem finishes, collar construction, and pocket placement. The more specific these are, the less room there is for factory interpretation.

Color Information. Pantone references and specific dyeing or printing instructions for each color option.

Label and packaging requirements. Care labels, brand placement, size labels, barcode requirements, folding, and packaging instructions.

Fit Comments and Revision History. Notes from each fitting — what changed and why — so the factory understands the design evolution and doesn't repeat resolved issues.

Why is accuracy so important?

The cost of a vague or incomplete tech pack directly impacts time and money: additional samples, incorrect production lots, delayed launches, and damaged supplier relationships. Tech pack consistency and quality translate directly into profit margins.

Most production errors are not manufacturing failures — they are communication errors. Many factors contribute: information gaps, non-standardized formats, language barriers, and fragmented communication channels (SMS, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, Email, Teams, etc.). Even within a team, designers and pattern makers might communicate different requirements.

Resolving these issues reduces errors and shortens product development lead times. Factories can quote accurately, order materials in advance, and plan production better. In global production, the tech pack is often the only document that crosses the language barrier. It needs to be unambiguous in every detail.

How to create a tech pack: the process

There is no single correct format. Clarity and completeness are key to ensuring the factory understands your vision quickly.

Step 1: Start with technical drawings. Create clean flats in Adobe Illustrator. Factories need blueprints, not rough sketches or mood images.

Step 2: Complete the measurement chart (POM). List all points for all sizes with tolerances. Work from a fit block and have it reviewed by a pattern maker before sending.

Step 3: Build the Bill of Materials (BOM). List all components with finish, supplier refs, and Pantone codes. Incomplete BOMs are a common source of substitution errors.

Step 4: Write construction notes. Explain assembly with reference diagrams where text is insufficient. Be specific about seam allowances and stitch types.

Step 5: Add label and packaging specs. Don't forget this until the first sample arrives with incorrect labels. Include it from the start.

Step 6: Version Control. Date and number every update. Factories must always have the current version to avoid working from outdated files.

Common tech pack mistakes — and how to avoid them

Sending only rough sketches. Factories need technical blueprints. Rough sketches lead to inaccurate samples and higher costs due to repeated sampling.

Incomplete measurements. Missing a single point can lead to a sample that fits incorrectly in one area, even if the rest is right. Include even the 'obvious' points.

Using vague color definitions. "Dark Navy" is not a spec. Use Pantone codes for exact definitions. Ensure every component has a specific color reference.

Omitting construction details. Factories will make their own decisions if not specified. Detail every seam, pocket construction, and hem stitch.

Not tracking revisions. If you update a spec without incrementing the version number, the factory may use the wrong one. Label every revision clearly.

Treating it as a static document. A tech pack should be updated after every change. The version in your PLM should always reflect the current state of the product.

Tech Pack Software: Spreadsheets vs. Dedicated Tools

Many brands start with Excel templates. They work to a point — they are familiar and flexible. But as you scale, the lack of version control and fragmented information lead to costly errors.

Excel files sent back and forth over email make it hard to know which version is current. Material specs are in one place, comments in another, and drawings in a third. Information becomes disconnected and interpretations vary.

Dedicated software (PLM) treats tech pack elements as structured data. They track every change, timestamp updates, and ensure the factory always sees the latest version. Atellio takes this further by treating data as a byproduct of the work, not extra manual entry.

Data management and field requirements in the AI era

Today, many managers push for 'using AI' as a buzzword, often forcing workers to input data as a manual end in itself just to build a database for AI. For workers, inputting data into a PLM becomes an administrative burden rather than a helpful tool.

Many existing PLMs focus on 'clean data' for management survival but don't match the actual requirements of the creators on the ground. Like ERPs, they are built for business maintenance rather than creative workflow, meaning they often fail to meet the needs of the actual makers.

Atellio: Next-generation PLM for workers

Atellio is not just a PLM designed for management. It is built so that information is captured naturally as workers perform the task of 'making clothes.' This information is managed as a database, allowing AI to then truly enhance and optimize the entire production process without adding manual overhead.