How to Create a Tech Pack for Clothing Manufacturing: Step-by-Step (2026)

Creating a tech pack is the most important step between designing a garment and placing a production order. This guide walks through every section of a professional tech pack in the exact order you should build it. BEFORE YOU START: WHAT YOU NEED Before opening any software, gather: - Final design sketches (front, back, side views) - Fabric swatches or confirmed fabric references - Pantone colour chips or confirmed Pantone codes - Reference measurements (your fit model or existing size chart) - Trim and hardware samples or catalogues STEP 1 — CREATE THE COVER PAGE The cover page is the first thing a factory sees. Include: - Style name and style number (e.g., "WJ-2026-001 — Women's Quilted Jacket") - Season (e.g., "AW 2026") - Brand name and logo - Designer name and contact email - Date created and current version number (v1.0) - Fabric category and target country of manufacture A clear cover page tells the factory this document is professional and that they are dealing with a brand that takes quality seriously. STEP 2 — DRAW THE TECHNICAL FLAT SKETCH The technical flat (also called a "CAD drawing" or "flat illustration") is a ghost mannequin view of the garment showing every seam, stitch, and design element. Rules for a good technical flat: - Draw front and back views at minimum. Add a side view for complex silhouettes (e.g., structured tailoring, cargo pockets). - Use clean, even line weights. Seam lines are typically thinner than outline strokes. - Include callout arrows pointing to: pocket placement, zipper type, collar construction, seam finish, topstitch width. - Do not use perspective or 3D shading — factories need technical accuracy, not illustration. Tools: Adobe Illustrator (industry standard), ThreadPack's built-in canvas, or CLO 3D for complex constructions. STEP 3 — WRITE THE BILL OF MATERIALS (BOM) The BOM lists every raw material that goes into the garment. For each material, include: | Material | Description | Colour | Colour Code | Supplier | Placement | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Main fabric | 100% organic cotton twill, 280gsm | Olive | Pantone 7491 C | Preferred Textiles | Body | | Lining | 100% recycled polyester taffeta | Black | Pantone Black C | Open source | Lining | | Main zipper | YKK #5 coil, auto-lock slider | Black | — | YKK | Centre front | | Care label | Woven, 50mm × 30mm | White | — | Own brand | Left side seam | Never leave a BOM row blank — if a detail is undecided, write "TBC" so the factory knows you are aware of the gap. STEP 4 — WRITE THE CONSTRUCTION DETAILS Construction details tell the factory HOW to sew the garment, not just what it looks like. Include: - Seam type: 3-thread overlock on all internal seams; flat-felled seam on shoulder yoke. - Seam allowance: 1.0 cm throughout unless noted. - Stitch density: 12–14 stitches per 10 cm. - Topstitch: 6 mm single-needle topstitch in matching thread on all external seams. - Hem: 2 cm double-fold hem, blind-stitched. - Pocket opening reinforcement: bar tack at each end, 2.0 cm length. The more detail you provide here, the fewer revision rounds you will need. STEP 5 — BUILD THE MEASUREMENT SPEC SHEET The spec sheet is the most technically sensitive section. Errors here cause physical fit problems. Structure: 1. List all points of measure (POM) down the left column (e.g., Chest at 2.5 cm below armhole, Natural waist, Hip at 20 cm below waist, etc.). 2. Add a column for each size (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL). 3. For each size, enter the finished garment measurement — not body measurement. 4. Add a tolerance column: e.g., ±0.5 cm for small measurements, ±1.0 cm for large measurements. 5. Include a "How to Measure" diagram showing exactly where each measurement is taken. Common beginner mistake: confusing body measurements with finished garment measurements. A garment's chest measurement is always larger than the body measurement — the difference is called ease. STEP 6 — SPECIFY COLOURWAYS AND ARTWORK PLACEMENT If your garment has multiple colourways, create a section that shows: - A thumbnail of the garment in each colour - Pantone reference for each fabric, trim, thread, and label For prints, embroidery, or screen prints: - Provide the artwork as a high-resolution vector file (AI or EPS) - Specify placement dimensions: e.g., "Centre front chest, 8 cm wide × 6 cm tall, bottom of artwork 5 cm below neckline seam" STEP 7 — WRITE LABEL AND PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS Factories need to know: - Care label: exact content text in all required languages; label placement (usually left side seam, 8 cm from hem) - Hang tag: placement (right front pocket), attachment method (knotted string/plastic barb) - Polybag: size, fold type, whether to include tissue paper - Carton: how many units per polybag, how many polybags per carton, carton dimensions STEP 8 — ADD REVISION HISTORY AND EXPORT Before sending, add a revision log at the bottom of the document: | Version | Date | Changes Made | Changed By | |---|---|---|---| | v1.0 | 2026-03-25 | Initial release | Design Team | Export the completed document as a PDF. Name the file using the style number and version: WJ-2026-001_TechPack_v1.0.pdf USING THREADPACK TO CREATE YOUR TECH PACK ThreadPack is purpose-built for this workflow. The platform includes: - A canvas tool for creating technical flat sketches - Pre-built BOM and measurement spec sheet templates - AI-assisted measurement chart generation - One-click PDF export with professional formatting - Collaborative features so your team and factory can work from the same document Start your first tech pack for free at threadpack.com. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: How many pages should a tech pack be? A: A basic garment (e.g., a T-shirt) needs 4–6 pages. Complex garments with multiple colourways, detailed construction, and large size runs can reach 15–20 pages. Q: Do I need to include fabric weight in the tech pack? A: Yes. Fabric weight (in gsm — grams per square metre) directly affects the garment's drape, handle, and durability. Always specify it. Q: Should I include cost targets in the tech pack? A: Generally no. Your cost target (FOB price) is shared separately during negotiation. Including it in the tech pack can anchor the factory to a price before they have calculated their own cost. Q: How do I handle a style with multiple fabrication options? A: Create a separate cover page for each fabric version and treat them as separate styles (e.g., style 001A, 001B). This avoids confusion during production.