What a tech pack is for
A tech pack is the single source of truth for a style. It should let a pattern maker, a fabric buyer, a sewer and a printer work from the same information without guessing. Mood boards and reference images show intent; the tech pack shows what to make.
The pack does not need to be long. It needs to be complete and internally consistent. A six-page pack with clear flats, a bill of materials and measured points is more useful than a forty-page deck with no tolerances.
The eight sections
A production-ready streetwear pack usually contains:
- Style overview: style name, category, season, target fit and a short description.
- Flats: front, back and detail drawings, with construction callouts.
- Bill of materials: shell fabric, lining, rib, thread, zips, drawcords, labels and packaging.
- Measurements: points of measure, base size, grade and tolerance.
- Construction: seams, stitch types, hems, pockets, hood build and finishing.
- Colourways: Pantone or physical swatches, plus placement of contrast panels.
- Decoration: artwork, method, size, placement and colour separations.
- Labelling and packing: woven labels, care labels, hangtags, polybags and carton marks.
If a section is unknown, mark it as open rather than leaving it out. An open question can be answered; a missing section becomes an assumption.
Measurements that actually control the fit
A size chart alone is not enough. The pack should name each point of measure — chest, body length, shoulder, sleeve, hem, hood height, inseam — and state the tolerance for each. Two centimetres of tolerance on a chest is a different garment from one centimetre.
For oversized and boxy shapes, include the drop from the shoulder and the width at the hem. For cropped styles, state the body length from the high point of shoulder. For tracksuits, separate the top and the bottom so each can be graded independently.
State the unit once, and use it consistently. Mixing centimetres and inches inside one pack is one of the most common causes of a wrong sample.
If you only have references
Many first-time buyers do not have a tech pack. That is workable. Send clear images of the style you want, a garment you already own that fits the way you want, and the measurements of that garment laid flat. Add any artwork, colour references and a description of the fabric you have in mind.
From that, a pattern and a measurement spec can be built, and the open points can be confirmed before sampling. The key is to show the fit on a real garment rather than relying on a model photo, where the body and the styling hide the actual proportions.
Original artwork is always preferred. If you are working from someone else's design, say so; the pack can still be developed, but the artwork rights remain your responsibility.
Common mistakes
- No tolerance: a measurement without an acceptable range cannot be inspected.
- Decoration detached from the garment: artwork with no size, placement or colour callout.
- Missing size grade: only one size specified, with the rest left to the factory.
- Mixed units: centimetres and inches in the same document.
- No packing spec: labels, hangtags and polybags decided after production.
- Contradictory notes: a flat that shows one pocket and a construction note that describes another.
Each of these turns into a sample comment or a bulk correction. Fixing them in the pack is cheaper than fixing them in production.
One approved sample, one standard
Sample comments should be consolidated into one round where possible. If three people send separate notes, the factory has to reconcile them. Collect the fit, colour, decoration and packing feedback into a single document with clear pass or change instructions.
The approved sample then becomes the bulk standard. Measurements, colour, decoration and packing are checked against it. That is how a small first run and a larger repeat order stay the same garment.
If the pack needs help, send what you have through the contact page. The factory page shows the stages that the pack feeds into.
