A tech pack is the garment’s instruction manual: flat sketches, bill of materials, measurement chart with tolerances, construction and stitch details, colours, artwork, labels and packaging. Factories cost, sample and inspect from it. The more complete it is, the fewer quote revisions, sample rounds and quality disputes you pay for later.
What is a tech pack and who uses it?
A tech pack (technical package) is the specification that turns a design idea into something a factory can cost and make. Three people rely on it. The merchandiser uses it to request costings. The sample room uses it to cut patterns and sew the first samples. The quality team uses it as the reference to inspect against: if a requirement is not in the tech pack, it is hard to reject a lot for missing it.
You do not need a perfect pack to start. A reference garment plus a sketch is enough for a first costing. But you should expect the pack to be complete before the pre-production sample is approved, because that sample becomes the contract.
What pages does a tech pack contain?
| Section | What it tells the factory | Common gaps |
|---|---|---|
| Cover / style summary | Style name and number, season, size range, base size, fabric summary, target quantity | Missing base size, so measurements cannot be read |
| Flat sketches | Front, back and side views, drawn flat with seam lines and details called out | Only a mood image or photo, no flat |
| Bill of materials (BOM) | Every material: fabric, lining, thread, buttons, zips, labels, packaging, with supplier, composition, width and consumption | No consumption or trim specification |
| Measurement chart | Points of measure with the size range and tolerance for each | No tolerances; measurements in one unit only |
| Construction details | Stitch types, seam finishes, hems, pocket placement, topstitch spacing | Stitches described as “standard” |
| Colourways and artwork | Pantone references, print or embroidery files, placement and size | Artwork without placement dimensions |
| Labels and packaging | Main label, care label, hangtag, polybag, carton and shipping marks | Care and origin wording not set per destination |
| Quality and test requirements | AQL level, test methods, wash and shrinkage tolerance | None stated |
| Comments and revisions | Dated change log and sample comments | No version control |
The tech-pack template on this site follows the same structure, so you can start from a blank, structured pack.
How do you read a measurement chart?
Each row is a point of measure (POM), such as chest width, body length or sleeve length, with a letter or code and a description of exactly where and how to measure it. Columns give the value for each size, usually graded from a base size. The last column is the tolerance, for example ±1 cm on chest width.
- Read the measuring method, not just the number. “Chest: 1 inch below armhole, flat, edge to edge” differs from a circumference.
- Check the base size. Grading rules apply from it. If the base size is wrong, every other size is wrong.
- Show both units. Factories in Bangladesh commonly work in inches; many buyers specify centimetres. Show both to avoid conversion errors.
- Set tolerances deliberately. Tight tolerances cost money and cause rejections. Loose tolerances produce inconsistent fit.
What should the bill of materials and construction pages say?
The BOM is where cost hides. For fabric, give composition, weight in GSM, construction (for example single jersey), yarn type and count, finish and width. For trims, give type, size, colour, material and supplier or reference. Each line should carry a consumption figure, such as metres of fabric per garment, so costings can be compared.
In construction details, name the stitch rather than calling it standard. International stitch classes are numbered under ISO 4915: for example 301 is a lockstitch, 401 a chainstitch, and 504 a three-thread overlock. A note such as “neck: 1×1 rib, topstitched with 406 coverstitch, 6 mm” leaves no room for interpretation.
What are the most common tech-pack mistakes?
- Photos or mood boards instead of flat sketches.
- No tolerances on the measurement chart.
- A bill of materials without consumption, so quotes cannot be compared.
- Colour given by name (“sage green”) rather than a Pantone TCX reference or a physical swatch.
- Artwork supplied as a flattened image, without vector files and placement dimensions.
- No labelling requirements for the destination: country of origin, fibre content and care instructions differ by market.
- Changes sent by chat message without updating a versioned document.
How do you use the tech pack during sampling?
Treat the pack as a living document with version numbers. After each sample (proto, fit, size set, PP) measure the garment against the chart, mark pass or fail on each point, and send comments by editing the pack rather than by message alone. When you approve the PP sample, freeze the version and keep it with the purchase order. The inspector uses that version at final inspection (AQL explained).
KEY NUMBERS
- Sections in a complete tech packSource: Giga Sourcing tech-pack template · as of Oct 1, 2026
- 8–9
- Lockstitch stitch classSource: ISO 4915 stitch types · as of Oct 1, 2026
- ISO 4915 class 301
- Typical chest-width toleranceSource: Common buyer specification practice · as of Oct 1, 2026
- ±1 cm (varies by buyer)
KEY NUMBERS · SOURCES LISTED BELOW · CITE THIS
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum information needed to get a costing?
A reference garment or flat sketch, fabric type and weight, size range, quantity per colour, decoration and destination market. A full tech pack follows before pre-production samples.
Do I need a tech pack to order from Bangladesh?
Not to request a first costing, but you do before sampling. Without one, the factory interprets the style, and the interpretation becomes the standard.
What file format should a tech pack be in?
PDF for review and spreadsheets or design-software files for editable data. Artwork should be supplied as vector files (AI, EPS or SVG) alongside the PDF.
Who is responsible for errors in the tech pack?
The buyer owns the specification. If a factory builds exactly to an incorrect pack, the buyer pays for the correction. That is why checking the first samples against the pack matters.
Sources
- ISO 4915: Textiles, stitch types, classification and terminology · 1991
- Giga Sourcing tech-pack template · Oct 1, 2026