THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TECH PACK FOR DESIGNERS

Start your business with a vision. Now is the time to connect with clothing manufacturers and let them do the magic that will turn your ideas into a marketable product.

Once you've found the right apparel manufacturer for your brand, precise open communication is required to turn your ideas into consumables. What's the best way to share your vision?

In this article, we're going to dive into tech packs and make sure you have the proper knowledge and confidence to tackle this important phase of apparel brand adoption. A standardized form of communication between you and your clothing manufacturer is the key to efficient and high-quality clothing production. The good news is that once you polish those specs, the end result won't let you down.

What is a tech pack?

A tech pack is a complete package of design details that are provided to a modeler after the clothing design process is complete. These documents allow stylists to maintain quality control over their idea while it is being developed into a sample that a textile manufacturer can make.

Compiling this factsheet is a crucial element of the design process as it includes information on raw materials, size ranges, and final details of the garment, as well as technical drawings and other information such as graphic placement details that can be used to create a sample from your exact specifications.

Creation of tech packs

Providing the right specifications to the apparel manufacturer leaves less room for misunderstanding. It is important not to leave anything random so that the entire tech pack harmonizes the production process.

Review the main areas that should be in a full tech pack and details on how to fill out each section:

• Sketches and descriptions

• Style and inspiration

• Fabric placement and clothing construction

• Color selection

• Table of contents or parts list

• Seam to seam dimensions

It sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? Don't be discouraged just yet. With our step-by-step instructions, you can overcome the initial confusion and have a transparent dialogue with your clothing manufacturer.

1. Sketches and descriptions

Your tech pack should start with a flat black and white sketch showing the front and back views of the garment. Make it as simple as possible, and don't use colors. You can create scanned sketches using software such as Adobe Illustrator to create your own images.

2. Style advice and inspiration

This section is your branded style board. Here, add the images and templates that inspired you to create the original ideas. This includes textures, prints, cuts, and styles that reflect your vision. You may want to add some comments to make sure your images are clearly transferable to the maker.

3. Placement of the fabric and construction of the garment

This section highlights the garment assembly you want and should include construction diagrams. Sketches of your clothing should be marked in relation to the type of material you plan to place in specific areas, including all the details down to small details like the placement of the label. For example,

use a strip to indicate the use of one type of fabric and stitches for another type. Labeling that corresponds to each model in the full key below the diagram.

Use as many arrows or notes as necessary to get the message across. However, when writing comments, always decipher the abbreviations or acronyms you are using. When assembling garments, it is important to have unique codes for each type of print or fabric to avoid misunderstandings.

4. Color choices

Identifying the specific colors to be used is critical to getting the right appearance first. You should provide the color name, number (Pantone color or original number), and color. You can also add print color schemes if your design doesn't have spot colors.

5. List of contents or list of parts

The details of the fabrics for your designs should be included in the BOM or parts list. This emphasizes all aspects of your clothing, including the shell, lining, pockets, fasteners, and tags. This list can be divided into five sections as shown below:

Placement: Where the material will be used or where it will be sewn into the garment.

Comments: Include all relevant information on the use of the material.

Material: Be sure to indicate fiber content, content, and identification numbers.

Supplier: identity who supplies the substance.

Color Number: Experts say there are more than 150 levels of gray. Hence, you will understand the importance of specifying the precise colors required for your design.

6. Measurements from seam to seam

This is often classified as one of the more technical aspects of the tech pack. However, your seam-to-seam measurements are critical to ensure the right fit, style, and size for your clothing. This section usually contains five columns and aids for creating the initial fit model and example.

Measurement point (POM): All clothing must fit perfectly. Otherwise, the final product will not be well assembled. Take note of the types of measurements that need to be used for each part of the style.

Description: Specify how the measurements are to be made. This section needs to be very specific because manufacturers need to have clear information on how to measure each point. HPS (Shoulder High Point) is the main starting point for most vertical measurements, and you need to remember to mention this in the description.

Asked: You must have had an idea of the final dimensions of your product. This section provides actual measurements. If you need help making your decision, don't fill out this section but contact the garment factory for help. You can adjust the values at any time after the first adjustment.

Tolerance (+/-): This section indicates whether the largest and smallest measurements can be measured above or below the required measurement. Production must remain in the area.

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