Clothing Tech Pack Guide: How to Build a Tech Pack for Custom Apparel

Clothing Tech Pack: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Create One

What Is a Clothing Tech Pack?

A clothing tech pack (technical package) is a detailed blueprint that translates your fashion design into manufacturing-ready instructions. It includes everything your production partner needs to know—from materials, sizing, and stitching details to print placements, colors, and labeling.

Without a tech pack, you risk miscommunication, delays, and costly mistakes in production. Especially if you’re working with international manufacturers or looking to launch a white label or private label clothing brand, a tech pack is your most essential tool.

What Is a Tech Pack Used For?

Translate your design into production instructions: It bridges the gap between your creative vision and the factory's technical execution.
Communicate expectations clearly: Manufacturers need exact information about fabrics, cuts, measurements, and finishing details to avoid mistakes.
Ensure production consistency: Whether you’re ordering 30 or 3,000 units, your tech pack ensures each piece meets your original standards.
Reduce errors and back-and-forth during sampling: Clear documentation eliminates guesswork.
Protect your intellectual property: By having everything in writing, you establish a record of your designs.

If you’re working with custom blanks, such as oversized t-shirts or heavyweight hoodies , and want to modify them with prints, labels, or color changes, a partial tech pack or customization sheet may be all that’s required.

When Do I Need a Tech Pack?

You need a tech pack when:

You’re developing a custom cut-and-sew collection from scratch.
You want consistent production over time or across different factories.
You’re working with fabrics, fits, or construction details that deviate from industry standards.
You’re aiming for mass production or planning to scale and need every batch to be identical.
You’re working with overseas manufacturers that require detailed documentation in order to deliver precise results.

Having a tech pack is especially important when you want to establish long-term relationships with multiple suppliers, or if you plan to create collections that must remain consistent season after season.

When don’t you need a full tech pack?
If you're using pre-developed styles from a trusted supplier—like our fully customizable blanks for oversized t-shirts or heavyweight hoodies—you may only need to provide:

Pantone color references
Your logo artwork
Placement details for prints or embroidery
Private label information (e.g., inside neck labels, custom hang tags)

This is ideal for white label or private label brands that want to move fast with low MOQs while keeping quality high. Using proven blank apparel styles reduces development time and cost, allowing startups to focus more on branding, marketing, and sales.

If you're unsure which route is right for your brand—custom tech pack vs. customizing blanks—consider your timeline, budget, and how unique your product needs to be. For example, if you're launching a capsule of oversized heavyweight hoodies with unique trims, but using standard fabrics and cuts, customizing blanks is usually the smarter choice.

What Should Be Included in a Tech Pack?

A complete tech pack typically contains the following:

Cover Page
- Brand name
- Season/collection
- Style number and name
- High-quality sketch or visual
Technical Sketches (Flat Drawings)
- Front and back views
- Line drawings showing construction details like seams, stitching, and panels
Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Fabrics: composition, weight, supplier, color (Pantone TCX if applicable)
- Trims: zippers, drawstrings, eyelets, buttons
- Labels, tags, packaging elements
Construction Details
- Seam types, stitch counts, hem finishes
- Placement and dimensions of key design features
Measurement Specs (Size Chart)
- POMs (Points of Measurement) for each size (e.g., chest width, sleeve length)
- Tolerances (acceptable deviation ranges)
Colorways & Print/Embroidery Artwork
- Visual reference of each colorway with Pantone codes
- Logo positioning, scale, print type (e.g., screen print, silicon, embroidery)
Labeling & Packaging Instructions
- Placement of woven labels, care labels, hang tags
- Bagging, folding, boxing details
Revision & Sample Tracker
- Space to note changes and approvals after sample rounds

What Should NOT Be Included in a Tech Pack?

Vague sketches or handwritten notes
Unclear or incomplete fabric descriptions
Unconfirmed pricing or fabric availability
Low-resolution logo files

Factories depend on precision. If your tech pack lacks detail, you’ll likely receive disappointing samples—or no sample at all.

Are There Free Tech Pack Samples Online?

Yes, but with limitations. Here are a few free resources to explore:

Techpacker: Offers editable tech pack templates with cloud collaboration tools
Maker’s Row: Occasionally publishes free downloads and templates
Pinterest & Behance: Good for inspiration and structure, but often non-editable

However, free templates are often generic and not ideal for serious production. If you're launching private label streetwear or premium activewear, it's worth investing in a professionally made tech pack.

Benefits of Having a Tech Pack

Speeds up sampling and approval
Minimizes production errors
Reduces costs by avoiding remakes
Makes you look professional to factories
Enables easy scaling for future orders
Protects your design and brand integrity

If you're using our custom blanks like oversized t-shirts or heavyweight hoodies , we can provide the base tech specs and help you prepare the customization details.

How to Make a Clothing Tech Pack

Start with a clean design sketch (AI or hand-drawn, but detailed)
Define fabrics and trims in the BOM
Add detailed construction info and measurements
List all branding elements (labels, tags, packaging)
Include print/embroidery artwork and placements
Format into a clear document (PDF, Excel, or Techpacker)

Tools you can use:

Techpacker – user-friendly, cloud-based
Adobe Illustrator – industry standard for sketches
Excel or Google Sheets – great for BOMs and spec sheets

Or let our team at AthleisureBasics assist you—we help startup brands create production-ready tech packs or use our existing templates for customizable blanks.

How to Get a Tech Pack Made

DIY if you’re experienced and have the right tools
Hire a technical designer via platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Behance
Partner with AthleisureBasics: We offer support packages for tech pack creation and factory coordination

Start your order here to get expert help and access to our Portugal-based network of ethical manufacturers.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're launching a cut-and-sew streetwear brand or customizing private label oversized blanks, a tech pack is the foundation of successful production.

It’s the difference between hitting your deadline with high-quality pieces—and months of frustrating back-and-forth.

Need help getting started? Contact our team, and let us guide you from idea to product—faster, smarter, and with fewer surprises.

Clothing Tech Pack Guide: How to Build a Tech Pack for Custom Apparel Production