Tech Pack Checklist Every Fashion Designer Should Follow (2025 Guide)

Imagine this.
You find the perfect manufacturer overseas.
You send your sketches, your fabric ideas, your mood board—everything you love.
And when the first sample arrives… it looks nothing like the product you dreamed of.

This moment happens to thousands of designers every year.
Not because their idea was wrong—
but because their tech pack was incomplete.

A tech pack is not “just paperwork.”
It is the single most important document that decides whether your product becomes a hit, a mess, or a money-burning disaster.

This guide will walk you through a clear, global-standard Tech Pack Checklist — used by top brands and trusted manufacturers.
If you follow this, you will save money, time, mistakes, and heartbreak.

What Exactly Is a Tech Pack? (Simple Explanation)

A tech pack (technical package) is a detailed blueprint that explains exactly how your garment should be made.

Think of it as the Google Maps for manufacturing.
If your tech pack is clear, factories follow it step by step.
If it’s unclear, they guess—and guessing leads to costly problems.

A complete tech pack includes:

• Measurements
• Construction details
• Materials
• Artwork/prints
• Stitching
• Trims
• Labeling
• Fit guidelines
• Packaging instructions
• Quality checkpoints

No assumptions.
No confusion.
Just clarity.

THE ULTIMATE TECH PACK CHECKLIST EVERY DESIGNER MUST FOLLOW

Below is the complete checklist broken into sections, with global examples, expert tips, and beginner-friendly steps.

1. Style Overview & Design Intent

This section answers one simple question:

“What are you trying to create and why?”

Include:

• Garment name
• Season and collection
• Product purpose (activewear, swimwear, luxury, casual, maternity, kidswear)
• Inspiration & design story
• Front and back sketches (flats)

Why it matters

Manufacturers produce hundreds of styles weekly.
Your style overview helps them categorize your garment and avoid mixing construction methods.

Pro tip

Add 2–3 reference photos from existing products (not to copy, but to show direction).
Brands like Nike, Zara, and Shein always add visual cues for clarity.

2. Detailed Technical Sketches (Flats)

Technical sketches are not fashion illustrations.
These are clean, thin-line drawings showing the garment from:

• Front
• Back
• Side (if needed)
• Inside view (for jackets, hoodies, dresses)

What to include

• Stitch lines
• Seams
• Panels
• Pockets
• Zippers
• Plackets
• Hems
• Pleats
• Folds
• Cut lines

Real-world example

A hoodie without a tech sketch often arrives with:

• Wrong pocket size
• Wrong hood shape
• Wrong rib hem
• Wrong drop-shoulder angle

Clear sketches eliminate 90% mistakes.

3. Measurement Specifications (Spec Sheet)

Think of this as the heart of your tech pack.

A spec sheet contains every measurement your garment needs in every size.

Must-include measurements

• Chest/bust
• Waist
• Hip
• Shoulder
• Sleeve length
• Sleeve opening
• Neck width
• Garment length
• Bottom opening
• Rise (for pants)
• Thigh, knee, ankle

Include

✔ Size chart
✔ Tolerance (allowed measurement difference, e.g., ±0.5 cm)
✔ Grading rules (how measurements change between sizes)

Beginner tip

If you don’t know measurements, use:

• Your best-fitting garment
• Global standard size charts (US/EU/UK)
• Your target market body type

Why tolerance matters

Without tolerance, manufacturers may reject batches or give excuses like:
“Measurement is fine, this variation is normal.”
Tolerance defines what’s “acceptable.”

4. Materials & Fabric Details (Fabric Sheet)

This section prevents your sample from turning out too thin, too thick, too stretchy, or too stiff.

Include details like:

• Fabric type (cotton, polyester, scuba, viscose, lycra blend)
• Fabric weight (GSM)
• Composition
• Stretch percentage
• Dye method
• Shrinkage allowance
• Color and Pantone codes
• Lining and interlining details

Real-world story

A US activewear brand once sent a design for leggings.
The manufacturer used a fabric with only 8% spandex instead of 22% because the tech pack did not specify stretch %.
End result:
See-through leggings that tore within two wears.

Your fabric sheet avoids disasters like this.

5. Trims & Accessories (Trims Sheet)

Trims are everything except the main fabric.

List all trims with details:

• Zippers (length, teeth type, brand)
• Buttons
• Metal hardware
• Elastic
• Drawcord
• Patches
• Badges
• Lace
• Velcro
• Hooks, sliders, buckles

Include

✔ Material
✔ Size
✔ Color
✔ Placement

Global example

Brands like Lululemon specify zipper puller shapes because even small deviations change the premium feel.

6. Construction Details (How the Garment Is Made)

This is where you explain “how to stitch, fold, attach, reinforce, finish.”

Include

• Stitch type (single-needle, overlock, flatlock, bartack)
• Seam type
• Neck construction
• Collar type
• Pocket attachment
• Cuffs & rib instructions
• Hem finishing
• Lining attachment
• Elastic insertion
• Panel joining
• Wash instructions

Beginner-friendly explanation

Stitch type = how your fabric pieces will be joined together.
Wrong stitch leads to:

• Puckering
• Holes
• Weak seams
• Visible threads

Real-case insight

A California streetwear brand got 4,000 hoodies delivered with visible topstitching because they did not specify “no visible stitching on hood”.
One missing line = thousands of dollars lost.

7. Artwork, Prints & Embroidery

This section ensures your graphics look exactly how you dream.

Include:

• Artwork files (PDF/AI)
• Print placement
• Print size
• CMYK colors
• Print technique (DTG, screen print, puff print, sublimation)
• Embroidery thread count & type
• Patch size & position
• Logo guidelines

Pro tip

Always include a placement mockup showing how the artwork looks on the body.
Factories often misplace prints without this.

8. Labeling & Branding Instructions

Labels are small, but mistakes here ruin the complete professional feel.

Types of labels to include

• Main label
• Size label
• Wash-care label
• Brand label
• Hem label
• Patch label
• Price tag

Specify

✔ Size
✔ Color
✔ Typeface
✔ How it should be attached (inside neckline, side seam, etc.)

Global insight

Japanese brands such as Uniqlo have some of the cleanest label guidelines—minimal, standardised, and consistent.

9. Bill of Materials (BOM)

The BOM tells the factory everything required to make your garment.

Include

• Fabrics
• Threads
• Labels
• Trims
• Packaging materials
• Print and embroidery materials

Each item gets:

• Code
• Quantity
• Unit
• Supplier name

Why it’s important

It helps you:

• Control cost
• Track supplier quality
• Maintain consistency across batches

Without BOM, factories may replace trims or materials without informing you.

10. Packaging Instructions

Packaging affects branding, shipping, and product protection.

Include

• Folding method
• Polybag size & thickness
• Tag placement
• Barcode label size & position
• Box dimensions
• Brand stickers
• Sustainability instructions (recycled polybags, biodegradable packaging)

Example

European brands often require biodegradable packaging due to distributor guidelines.
Your tech pack must specify this upfront.

11. Compliance & Quality Guidelines

For global markets, compliance is non-negotiable.

Include

• Needle detection requirements
• Fabric tests (colorfastness, shrinkage, GSM verification)
• Chemical compliance (REACH, OEKO-TEX)
• Children’s clothing standards
• Metal durability tests
• Pull test for zippers

Why this matters

A US children’s brand lost 40,000 units because they did not meet a small safety compliance (choking hazard).
Your tech pack prevents such risks.

12. Fit Notes & Sample Review Instructions

Fit is where most brands struggle.

Add

• Model height
• Fit type (oversized, slim, relaxed)
• Try-on comments
• Required corrections
• Notes from previous samples

Pro tip

Always add a section for:
“Changes made from previous version.”

Factories love clarity.
You save miscommunication.

13. Version Control

Every tech pack must have:

• Version number
• Revision date
• Updated by
• Change summary

This avoids confusion when everyone is working with different versions.

Quick Tech Pack Checklist (Copy & Save)

✔ Style overview
✔ Technical sketches
✔ Measurement sheet
✔ Size chart & tolerance
✔ Fabric sheet
✔ Trims list
✔ Stitching & construction
✔ Artwork & prints
✔ Embroidery details
✔ Labeling guide
✔ Bill of materials
✔ Packaging instructions
✔ Quality & compliance
✔ Fit notes
✔ Version control

Practical Tips to Improve Your Tech Packs Instantly

1. Never leave anything open to interpretation

If you don’t specify it, the factory will decide it.

2. Use visual references for everything

Manufacturers speak “visual language.”

3. Keep your tech pack clean and simple

Avoid paragraphs.
Use clear diagrams and bullet points.

4. Always send editable files

PDF + Excel or AI file.

5. Update version numbers religiously

This prevents costly communication errors.

Global Examples of Good Tech Pack Practices

US Streetwear Brands

They focus heavily on:

• Print placement
• Stitching styles
• Oversized fits

European Premium Brands

They emphasize:

• Clean finishing
• Material quality
• Compliance standards

Fast-Fashion Brands (Zara, Shein)

They rely on:

• Extremely detailed grading
• Consistent trims
• Packaging precision

Indian D2C Brands

They often suffer from:

• Poor measurement sheets
• Missing tolerance
• Vague communication

A global-standard tech pack solves all of this.

Conclusion: A Strong Tech Pack Saves Time, Money & Headache

Every successful fashion brand—big or small—has one thing in common:
They never start production without a perfect tech pack.

Your tech pack is not a “document.”
It is your voice, your vision, and your quality guarantee.

Whether you’re launching a new brand, scaling your ecommerce line, or building your next bestseller—
follow this checklist, and you’ll reduce mistakes, improve quality, speed up sampling, and build long-term trust with manufacturers.

If you want professionally built, manufacturer-ready tech packs in 72 hours,
Tech Pack Genius is here to help.

FAQs

1. Why is a tech pack important?

It gives manufacturers clear instructions, reducing mistakes, delays, and extra costs.

2. Can I start sampling without a tech pack?

You can, but expect errors. A complete tech pack guarantees accurate samples.

3. How many pages should a tech pack be?

Most garments need 8–15 pages, depending on complexity.

4. Do beginner designers need tech packs?

Yes. Tech packs protect beginners from factory miscommunication.

5. Can factories help me create a tech pack?

Most can’t. They expect you to provide one. That’s why agencies like Tech Pack Genius exist.

6. What files should I include in my tech pack?

PDF + editable files (Excel/AI). Factories prefer both.

7. How often should I update my tech pack?

Update with every sample revision, and change the version number each time.