How to Create a Tech Pack in Canva (Beginner-Friendly Guide for Fashion Brands)

Imagine this.
You’ve designed the perfect garment in your head. You can see it — the colors, the fit, the stitching.
But the moment you send it to your manufacturer… the sample comes back nothing like what you imagined.
Wrong fit. Wrong silhouette. Wrong everything.

Every fashion brand owner has lived this nightmare at least once.

And most times, the real reason is not a bad manufacturer — it’s the lack of a proper tech pack.

In this article, I’ll show you exactly how you can create a professional, factory-ready tech pack using Canva, even if you’re not a designer — and even if you’ve never heard of CMYK, grading rules, or spec sheets before.

Let’s make your ideas production-ready.

What Is a Tech Pack? (Simple Explanation)

A Tech Pack (short for Technical Package) is the blueprint of your garment.
It tells your manufacturer:

• What to make
• How to make it
• Using what materials
• In what measurements
• With what trims
• And in what colors

Think of it as the instruction manual for your garment.

Without a tech pack → manufacturers guess.
With a tech pack → they follow a clear recipe.

And Canva makes this process surprisingly simple — if you know what to include.

Why Use Canva for Tech Packs?

Traditionally, tech packs are made on tools like Adobe Illustrator, Clo3D, Optitex, or CAD software.
Great, yes — but also:

• Expensive
• Hard to learn
• Not suitable for beginners
• Slow

Canva, on the other hand:

• Is easy to use
• Has tons of shapes and graphic tools
• Works on any device
• Allows drag-and-drop flat sketches
• Lets you add charts, tables, and labels
• Is perfect for startup founders, indie designers, and ecommerce brand owners

If used correctly, you can make a clean, beginner-friendly, manufacturing-ready tech pack.

Before You Start: What You Need Ready

Here’s what you should gather before opening Canva:

• Garment idea (sketch, Pinterest reference, photo, or mental image)
• Fabric details (cotton, rayon, polyester, blends)
• Measurements (chest, length, waist, sleeve — depending on garment)
• Color references
• Brand logo
• Label / tag details
• Any special instructions

The more clarity you have → the more accurate your tech pack.

How to Create a Tech Pack in Canva (Step-by-Step)

Below is a simple, practical, real-world process anyone can follow.

1. Open Canva and Select “A4 Document” or “US Letter”

Your tech pack needs to look clean and printable.

Choose:

• A4 size (international brands)
• US Letter (USA brands)

This keeps your file factory friendly.

2. Create the Cover Page (Branding + Garment Info)

Your first page sets the tone.
Include:

• Brand Name
• Style Name (e.g., “Urban Comfort Oversized Hoodie”)
• Style Number (e.g., TPG-HOOD-011)
• Collection Name (“Winter 2025”)
• Designer/Contact Name
• Date

Add your logo on top.
Use a clean font like Montserrat, Lato, or Open Sans.

Real-world example:

Zara, Shein, and H&M always use a tech pack cover page to standardize their communication across teams.

3. Add Your Garment Flat Sketches (Front + Back)

Flat sketches = 2D drawings showing the garment without a model.

You can:

• Upload your own sketch
• Use Canva’s drawing tools
• Import PNG flat sketches
• Or draw directly using Canva’s line shapes

Important: Keep the sketch simple, clean, and symmetrical.

What to show:

• Front view
• Back view
• Side or detail view (optional)
• Stitch lines
• Pocket designs
• Zippers, buttons, seams

Tip:

Use thin grey lines (not black) to avoid a heavy look.

4. Add Callouts (Detail Annotations)

This is where Canva becomes powerful.

Use arrows and labels to point to:

• Neckline
• Sleeve type
• Hem shape
• Pockets
• Buttons
• Rib design
• Print placement
• Stitch type

Example:

“Double-needle topstitch at shoulder seam, 0.5 cm width”

Manufacturers love clear callouts.
Never assume they’ll guess the details.

5. Create Your Measurements (Spec Sheet)

This is the most important page.

Make a table in Canva:

Tips for beginners:

• Use inches if exporting to the US market.
• Use centimeters for Asian/EU markets.
• Add a “tolerance” column (±0.5–1.0 cm) to avoid confusion.

Example from global production:

Factories in Tiruppur (India), Guangzhou (China), and Istanbul (Turkey) expect spec sheets formatted in simple tables just like these.

6. Add Fabric Details (Material Page)

Use a clean layout like this:

Fabric: 100% Cotton French Terry, 300 GSM
Color: Black
Handfeel: Soft, mid-weight
Shrinkage: Pre-washed
Stretch: 5–10%
Finishing: Bio-washed

You can add:

• Zoomed-in fabric photos
• Color swatches
• Pantone references

Why this matters:

Even a small difference in fabric GSM or stretch percentage can change the entire fit.

7. Add Trims & Accessories Details

Trims include:

• Buttons
• Zippers
• Labels
• Elastic
• Drawcords
• Rivets
• Patches
• Tags

Create a section with:

• Photos
• Sizes
• Material type
• Color
• Placement

Example:

“Metal zipper, YKK #5, silver finish, 18 cm length.”

8. Add Print / Embroidery Placement

If your garment has branding:

• Print logo
• Embroidery badge
• Patch
• Screen print
• DTG print

Show:

• Position (e.g., 5 cm from left side seam)
• Size
• Colors
• Technique

Global brands like Nike and Adidas always add “placement diagrams” for logos to maintain consistency across factories.

9. Add Construction Details

This page explains how to stitch the garment.

Include:

• Stitch type (lockstitch, overlock, coverstitch)
• Seam type
• Hem instructions
• Pocket construction
• Rib attachment
• Lining details

Example:

For a hoodie:

• “Rib cuff attached using 4-thread overlock”
• “Hood lined with self-fabric”
• “Flatlock stitch along shoulder seam”

10. Add the BOM (Bill of Materials)

This is a list of everything needed to make the garment.

Your table should include:

11. Add Packaging & Labeling Instructions

Manufacturers need to know:

• Tag placement
• Care label placement
• Packaging material
• Folding style
• Barcode location

Simple example:

• “Garment folded width 10 inches, height 12 inches.”
• “Hangtag attached with black string on neck label.”

12. Add Final Notes for the Manufacturer

This avoids future mistakes.

Include:

• “Send photo of first prototype before stitching full sample.”
• “Confirm fabric GSM before cutting.”
• “Do not change measurements without approval.”

Factories appreciate clarity.

Best Practices When Creating a Tech Pack in Canva

✔ Keep layouts clean

Use plenty of spacing.

✔ Avoid too many colors

Stick to black, grey, and one accent color.

✔ Export in PDF

Factories prefer:

• PDF (Print)
• 300 DPI

✔ Name files professionally

Example:
TPG_OversizedHoodie_Style011_TechPack.pdf

✔ Always send measurement photos

If you add spec points (A, B, C, D), show the garment with measurement arrows.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make (Avoid These!)

❌ Using fashion sketches instead of flat sketches

Manufacturers cannot work with stylized drawings.

❌ Not adding tolerances

This leads to disputes later.

❌ Not labeling measurement points

Factories might interpret differently.

❌ Ignoring stitching and construction notes

Fit depends on stitching type.

❌ No BOM

Brands lose track of materials costs.

Real Example: How a Startup Saved Money with Canva Tech Packs

A small London-based streetwear brand sent hoodie concepts to a Tiruppur factory without a proper tech pack.
The sample came back:

• Wrong hood shape
• Wrong rib length
• Wrong pocket size

After switching to a clear, Canva-based tech pack:

• Sample 2 came back 95% perfect
• Production cost reduced by 18%
• Turnaround time improved

Good tech packs = fewer mistakes = more profit.

Practical Tips for Brands Using Canva Tech Packs

Tip 1: Create a standard template

Reuse the same layout for every product.

Tip 2: Save all Pantone codes

Consistency is key for repeat orders.

Tip 3: Use real photos for trims

Factories love clarity.

Tip 4: Number all pages

Refer easily on WhatsApp with your supplier.

Tip 5: Keep your tech pack under 12–15 pages

Unless the product is complex.

Conclusion: Canva Makes You Production-Ready — If You Use It Right

A tech pack is not just a document.
It’s the bridge between your imagination and the real garment in your customer’s hands.

And Canva gives every brand founder — whether in New York, Mumbai, Lagos, or Sydney — the power to create professional, factory-ready tech packs without expensive software.

Your designs deserve accuracy.
Your brand deserves consistency.
Your manufacturers deserve clarity.

Start building with confidence.
Start creating tech packs that protect your ideas.

If you ever need expert-made tech packs in 72 hours, Tech Pack Genius is always here to help.

FAQs (Short, Clear, Beginner-Friendly)

1. Can a Canva tech pack be used by professional factories?

Yes. As long as it includes flat sketches, measurements, BOM, trims, construction notes, and packaging details, factories accept Canva PDFs globally.

2. Do I need to know fashion design to make a tech pack?

No. You just need clarity about your garment. Canva’s drag-and-drop tools make it beginner friendly.

3. How many pages should my tech pack be?

Most professional tech packs are 8–15 pages depending on garment complexity.

4. What file format should I send to manufacturers?

Always send a PDF (Print) exported at high resolution.

5. Can I use photos instead of sketches?

Only for reference. Actual production requires flat technical sketches, not stylized images.

6. Can I create a measurement chart in Canva?

Yes. Canva’s table tool allows clean size charts for spec sheets.

7. How often should I update my tech pack?

Any time you change fabric, trim, measurement, logo, or stitching — update your tech pack immediately.