Behind every successful clothing line is a clear, detailed plan, and in product development, that plan is called a tech pack. It’s the go-to document your team and manufacturers rely on throughout the production process to get each style right, from fabrics and fits to trims and construction notes.

Yet many brands still struggle with outdated formats that slow things down. When updates get lost in email threads or buried in spreadsheets, mistakes happen, and those mistakes cost time and money.

If you're building or scaling a fashion brand, having a reliable, easy-to-follow tech pack isn't optional. It’s foundational.

This ultimate guide breaks down what a clothing brand tech pack includes, why it matters, and how to build one that keeps your team and vendors aligned from start to finish.

What Is a Clothing Brand Tech Pack?

A clothing brand tech pack is a detailed document that outlines everything needed to turn a design into a finished product.

It acts as a communication tool between your team and your clothing manufacturers. Since most manufacturers expect detailed documentation, it helps ensure every detail is understood and executed correctly.

This instructional document typically includes the following components:

• Design sketches – Clear visuals that show the garment from multiple angles.

• Bill of materials (BOM) – A list of fabrics, trims, hardware, and all other components used in the garment.

• Colorways – Style variations based on different colors or prints.

• Measurement specs – A size chart with detailed measurements and allowable tolerances.

• Construction details – Notes on stitching, seams, and other construction instructions.

• Labeling and packaging – Placement and specs for tags, care labels, and packaging materials.

• Sample comments – Notes and feedback from sample reviews or fitting rounds.

With a clear and complete technical pack, your garment production partners have everything they need to bring your designs to life without confusion or costly manufacturing delays.

Why Your Clothing Brand Needs an Effective Tech Pack

A good tech pack keeps your entire team and factory partners on the same page. When it’s done right, it becomes the single source of truth for your product, from the first sketch to the final sample.

Without one, small details get missed. That can mean incorrect materials, sizing issues, or delays in production. And when mistakes happen, they’re costly to fix.

Clear tech packs also save time. When everything is laid out upfront, you avoid the back-and-forth emails asking for measurements or material specs. Your team can spend more time designing and less time answering questions.

For growing brands, it’s also about working better together. A well-organized tech pack helps designers, product developers, and vendors stay aligned throughout the whole process of product development.

It builds trust through clear communication and keeps things moving without confusion.

Common Problems with Traditional Tech Packs

If your tech pack feels like a patchwork of files, emails, and spreadsheets, it’s time for an upgrade. An effective tech pack isn’t just helpful. It’s essential to scale your process and get products made right the first time.

Version Control Becomes Confusing

Each time you email a tech pack, you create another version. The minute someone makes an edit, that document becomes outdated.

Soon, your team is juggling multiple files, making it hard to know what’s current. Confusion over versions can quickly turn into costly production mistakes.

Communication Gets Lost or Scattered

Questions and comments from vendors often land in different emails, messages, or chats. This scattered communication can easily get lost or overlooked.

Without a central place for clear discussion, critical details are missed, delaying approvals and production.

Simple Changes Turn into Big Tasks

Small updates like revising measurements or changing trims should be easy. But with traditional tech packs, each tweak means opening multiple files, editing by hand, and resending.

Multiply this by dozens of styles, and your team wastes valuable hours on repetitive work instead of designing.

Your Team Lacks Visibility

Static tech packs don’t support real-time teamwork. When files live on desktops or email threads, team members can’t easily track progress or catch issues early.

Without clear visibility, collaboration slows down and potential problems become harder to spot.

The Modern Tool That Makes Your Tech Packs Smarter and Faster

Legacy PLMs weren’t built for today’s fashion industry. Most rely on clunky interfaces, rigid workflows, and expensive service models that slow you down instead of helping you scale. They make it hard to collaborate, harder to update, and nearly impossible to move quickly without workarounds or outside help.

Onbrand is built differently. We focus on speed, visibility, and ease of use, giving your design and development teams the tools they actually need to get products out faster with fewer mistakes.

Here’s how we help teams move faster and stay aligned:

55% Faster Tech Pack Creation

Teams build tech packs faster using reusable templates and bulk editing tools. With structured libraries and centralized data, tech packs can be created based on reusable elements that cut creation time by more than half.

4 Weeks Saved in Development Time

By centralizing communication, approvals, and updates, Onbrand reduces bottlenecks across the entire product lifecycle. Many customers report shaving 4 weeks off their typical development timelines, showing just how much time your team can save with the right tools.

10-Day Average for Data Migration and Onboarding

Getting started doesn’t take months. Our average onboarding, including setup, training, and full data migration, takes just 10 to 14 days. You start seeing value right away.

Always Up-to-Date, Always Accessible

Share live tech packs that update in real time. Everyone from fashion designers and developers to vendors around the world works from the same version with no PDFs or Excel files to manage.

Built-In Vendor Collaboration

Comment directly on measurements, materials, or design elements. Conversations stay tied to the right part of the tech pack, and assigning multiple factories to one style is easy while keeping vendor-specific details separate.

Dynamic File Sharing

Send a single live link instead of dozens of attachments. Your vendors always have access to the latest version, with full visibility into design details and updates.

Version Tracking and Visibility

Track every edit and comment with built-in version control. You can also see when vendors or teammates have viewed your tech pack or feedback, so you're never left wondering where things stand.

Onbrand helps your team work with clarity and confidence instead of patching together outdated tools and hoping for the best.

Transparent Pricing and Dedicated Support

Legacy PLMs often charge $50K or more per year, with additional fees for onboarding, customization, and support. Onbrand starts as low as $89 per user for growing teams and includes everything you need to get started fast.

Every customer gets a dedicated account manager and free support, with no hidden service fees or long wait times, and every customer gets free support from our team.

Ready to see what a modern PLM should feel like? Book your personalized demo today and see how Onbrand fits your business needs.

Creating a Clothing Brand Tech Pack: Step-by-Step Guide

A great tech pack is more than just a checklist. It’s a working document that helps your team stay aligned and your production run smoothly. Whether you’re building your first one or refining your process, here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what to include.

Step 1: Start With Clear Design Sketches

Begin with front and back views of the style. Include flat sketches, CADs, or hand drawings that show construction details like seams, pockets, closures, and stitch lines.

Step 2: Detail Your Materials and Trims

List every fabric, lining, zipper, button, label, or trim used in the product, whether you're producing t-shirts, dresses, or outerwear.

Be specific about fabric weights, compositions, and color codes. Group this into a clear BOM, so nothing gets missed.

Step 3: Outline Sizing and Measurement Specs

Create a spec sheet with points of measurement (POMs), sample sizes, and tolerances that align with your brand’s quality standards.

This helps the factory produce garments to spec and understand where minor variations are acceptable.

Step 4: Provide Colorways and Style Variations

If the style comes in multiple colors or prints, document each variation clearly. Include accurate references, color codes, and technical specifications to avoid confusion in sampling or production.

Step 5: Add Sample Notes and Fit Comments

Log any feedback from fit sessions or prototype reviews. Keeping a history of decisions helps your team stay aligned and supports better quality control during the production process, especially when shared with quality control planners.

Step 6: Clarify Labeling and Packaging Requirements

Define where care tags, brand labels, and barcodes go. Include any packaging instructions such as folding, bagging, or boxing, especially for retail or e-commerce orders.

A clear and organized tech pack keeps everyone working from the same plan. Tools like Onbrand help simplify this process by keeping all your styles, components, and updates in one place, so your team can move faster and avoid production errors.

Experience the Difference of Tech Packs in Onbrand!

Creating accurate, detailed tech packs is one of the most important steps in building a successful clothing brand. But when the process is slow, confusing, or disconnected, small mistakes can turn into big production delays.

That’s why modern fashion teams are moving away from spreadsheets and static files and choosing tools built for speed, clarity, and collaboration.

With Onbrand, your tech packs stay organized, live, and easy to update. Everyone sees the latest version, stays aligned, and your products get to market faster, with fewer errors or risk of miscommunication.

It’s time to replace the chaos of outdated tools with a system your team actually enjoys using. Book your personalized demo today!

FAQs About Clothing Brand Tech Pack

How much does a fashion tech pack cost?

The cost of creating a tech pack depends on how you build it. If you’re working with a freelance designer or technical designer, they might charge anywhere from $100 to $500 per style. For in-house teams, the cost is tied to time and efficiency. Using a platform like Onbrand reduces time spent managing spreadsheets or revisions, helping your team build accurate tech packs faster without the added freelance fees.

How do you make a tech pack for clothes?

Start with a clear layout that includes key sections: technical sketches, materials and trims, colorways, sizing specs, construction notes, labels, and packaging instructions. Many brands also include sample comments, design specs, and revision history. The easiest way to create tech packs and manage them is by using a structured platform where you can reuse templates, apply updates in real time, and keep everything in one place.

How do I send a tech pack to a manufacturer?

Instead of exporting and emailing PDFs or Excel files, use a live, shareable link. With Onbrand, you send one link, and your manufacturer always sees the most up-to-date version, just as they would expect in a professional, modern workflow. You can also track when they’ve viewed it and leave comments directly inside the tech pack, keeping all feedback in context.

Are there free tech pack templates available for new brands?

Yes, you can find free tech pack templates online to help you get started. These templates provide a structured layout for including design sketches, materials, sizing, and other important specs. You can also look for an example tech pack to understand how experienced brands structure theirs.

Who uses tech packs during the production process?

Quality control planners, designers, and manufacturers all rely on tech packs to maintain consistency and accuracy. A detailed tech pack ensures that each department follows the same specifications, helping avoid miscommunication and keeping product quality high.