Building a Handbag Tech Pack: What to Include and How to Do It
Building a Handbag Tech Pack: What to Include and How to Do It
Nov 4, 2025
Creating handbags that meet design intent and production standards requires more than creative sketches.
Brands need a structured document that captures every aspect of the product before it reaches the factory floor. A clear guide helps teams avoid errors, reduce back-and-forth with suppliers, and save both time and cost in development.
This article walks through the essentials of building a handbag tech pack. You’ll see what details matter, the tools designers often use, and the steps that help fashion teams prepare accurate specifications for production.
What Is a Handbag Tech Pack?
A handbag tech pack is a professional document that captures every design detail needed to move a bag from concept to production. It works as a blueprint within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) that guides communication between designers, product developers, and manufacturers.
The document explains how the handbag should be made, covering design intent, materials, and specifications in a structured format. Instead of back-and-forth corrections, teams use this technical package to provide factories with clarity at each stage of development.
Key Elements of a Handbag Tech Pack
A handbag tech pack works best when every part of the bag design is documented with precision. Each section plays a role in helping manufacturers understand how to produce the handbag without confusion.
The following elements are the foundation of a comprehensive tech pack.
Technical Sketches and Views
Technical sketches act as the foundation of the bag tech pack. These fashion flats present the handbag in clean outlines, showing construction lines, proportions, and design detail without distraction, and they align with the project’s fashion mood board.
To provide manufacturers with clarity, sketches should include:
Front and back views to highlight style and brand placement
Side views to illustrate depth, gussets, and pocket positioning
Base view to outline support panels, feet, or reinforcements
Inside view to show lining, compartments, and label placement
Exploded view when components need to be separated for clarity
High-quality sketches reduce errors during manufacturing and keep specifications consistent across projects. With angles clearly illustrated, designers, product developers, and factories share the same visual reference before moving into construction details.
Construction Details
The way a bag is built must be spelled out in the tech pack. Panel breakdowns, stitch types, and stitches per inch (SPI) counts define strength and finish.
Edge paint, burnish, skive, and turn are added to show the exact treatments. Reinforcements such as foam or board are included to keep the shape firm and durable.
Clear construction details offer manufacturers precise instructions, reduce errors, and protect the overall quality of the bag design.
Materials and Colorways
When you build your handbag tech pack, make sure it includes complete material notes. Shell material, lining, and interlinings define the look and function of the bag. Trims such as buckles, snaps, and zippers complete the design and affect quality.
Color variations are also important. Pantone references and placement maps show how shades apply to fabrics, hardware, and labels.
And remember to record these details so every bag design is produced with accuracy across factories and samples.
Hardware and Trims
No handbag tech pack is complete without hardware specifications. Zippers, pulls, sliders, D-rings, O-rings, buckles, rivets, studs, feet, snaps, and magnetic closures all need to be specified. Each item should list size, finish, plating, and supplier codes to give manufacturers full clarity.
Trims such as decorative elements, edging, or branding pieces are also detailed here. When hardware and trims are documented with precision, factories can reproduce the bag design without mistakes and maintain the level of quality expected.
Measurements and Callouts
Exact measurements are the backbone of an accurate handbag tech pack.
This includes:
Height
Width
Depth
Gussets
Handle drops
Strap lengths
Inside pockets
Zipper lengths
Logo placements
Callouts mark key specs on the technical sketches. Tolerances show the limits allowed in each area, which helps manufacturers keep bags consistent across samples and production runs.
With clear measurements and callouts, errors are reduced and product quality is protected.
Branding and Labels
Logos, patches, embossing, debossing, and foil stamps all belong in your handbag tech pack. Placement and size must be noted, alongside care labels and hangtags, to guide factories in attaching the correct brand details.
Adding clear specs for branding and labels helps your manufacturer reproduce the design exactly as intended. When these details are part of the technical package, the finished handbags reflect both the creative vision and the quality standards of the brand.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Every handbag tech pack should include a bill of materials (BOM). This list covers shell material, lining, trims, hardware, and thread in full detail. Each entry should also include supplier information, minimum order quantities, lead times, and cost.
The bill of materials helps product developers and manufacturers track expenses and manage sourcing. When documented clearly, it shows the total cost of production, so no materials are overlooked during development.
Costing Sheet
Costs must be documented alongside the design details. A handbag tech pack often includes a costing sheet that outlines labor, shell material, lining, trims, hardware, and packaging.
Freight and waste allowances may also be added to present a realistic view of total cost.
With a costing sheet in place, both designers and manufacturers work with the same financial expectations. It helps brands manage budget, compare factory quotes, and avoid hidden expenses during development.
Testing and QA Requirements
Quality assurance requirements are an important part of a handbag tech pack. Load tests check the strength of handles and straps.
Abrasion and colorfastness tests confirm how fabrics, linings, and leather hold up during use. Hardware is reviewed through pull tests, while metal parts may undergo salt-spray testing to check resistance.
Clear QA requirements provide manufacturers with measurable standards to follow. With these details documented in the technical package, factories can produce handbags that meet both safety and quality expectations.
Packaging and Shipping
Before handbags leave the factory, packaging details must be documented. Notes specify stuffing, dust bags, polybags, and boxes to protect the product. Barcode placement and carton details are added to support accurate handling in warehouses and stores.
When you include clear packaging and shipping requirements, you prevent damage, save money on returns, and help your brand maintain quality.
Make sure to save these details as well to keep production consistent and avoid waste during distribution.
Tools Designers Use To Create a Handbag Tech Pack
Designers often begin a bag tech pack with illustration tools. Adobe Illustrator is the standard fashion design software for fashion flats and technical sketches that show the bag design from every angle. These files cover side views, pockets, and fabric placement, but they often sit in separate folders or projects.
Onbrand PLM solves this with an Adobe Illustrator plugin that syncs sketches directly into the tech pack. Built for modern fashion teams, Onbrand PLM brings shell material, construction details, and measurements together in one workspace.
Designers and product developers connect every part of the project, link it to the bill of materials, and share updates with manufacturers without scattered files.
With one connected tool, errors are reduced and time is saved. Every step of the handbag tech pack stays aligned, which gives teams confidence that the final bags reflect both the creative vision and production standards.
In addition to PLM, Onbrand also offers the AI Design tool that speeds up the creative stage. With Onbrand AI Design, teams can generate design variations, experiment with new shapes, and visualize material options early on.
This helps designers explore ideas faster while keeping everything connected to the same tech pack and production workflow.
How To Build A Handbag Tech Pack In Onbrand PLM
Onbrand PLM provides brands with a clear process for creating handbag tech packs and keeping every detail connected. Here’s how it works:
Centralize product data - Collect sketches, shell material, trims, hardware, colors, and measurements in Onbrand PLM’s libraries. Everyone works from a single source of truth.
Create and manage tech packs - Enter construction details, hardware specs, and measurements directly in the platform. Onbrand PLM generates live tech packs and PDF versions for manufacturer use.
Collaborate in one hub - Share updates with design, production, and manufacturing partners in real time. Comments, approvals, and changes are tracked inside the platform.
Use automation tools - Apply templates, clone styles, and make bulk updates to maintain consistency across projects.
Organize timelines - Plan collections, track development stages, and record approvals to streamline projects and keep them on schedule.
Track samples - Monitor prototypes, note feedback, and manage approvals to avoid production delays.
Access expert support - Onbrand PLM provides onboarding, training, and ongoing updates that enhance tech pack creation.
Why More Teams Are Choosing Onbrand PLM for Tech Packs
Handbag tech packs demand precision and clear communication with factories in the fashion world.
Onbrand PLM gives brands a modern platform to create, manage, and share tech packs without the confusion of spreadsheets or outdated systems, aligning with current fashion technology standards.
Teams using Onbrand PLM report an average 55% faster tech pack creation, which allows handbags to move into production with fewer delays.
Older PLM systems often force brands to use rigid workflows. Onbrand PLM adapts to the way your team already works, whether the focus is on shell material, hardware, or construction details.
Onboarding takes as little as 2 weeks, compared to months or years with legacy tools. Data migration is handled with automation that turns what used to be a barrier into a fast step.
With live tech packs, vendor collaboration, and project management built in, every handbag detail stays current throughout the product life cycle.
Brands see a 4-week reduction in development cycles, which provides designers and product developers more time to focus on creativity while factories receive accurate specs.
Key features of Onbrand PLM
Live tech packs keep handbag specs current and prevent outdated versions
Dedicated libraries for materials, trims, hardware, and measurements
Project management with stages, tasks, approvals, and calendars
Vendor collaboration directly on the tech pack instead of scattered emails
Automation tools for templates, cloning, and bulk updates
Fast onboarding in as little as 2 weeks
Continuous updates are included at no extra cost
Onbrand PLM is trusted by growing fashion brands to manage handbags and other product categories with confidence. Teams often save up to 10 days in data migration and implementation, which means faster collections and fewer production risks.
Shape Future Projects In Onbrand PLM
A complete handbag tech pack is more than a set of notes. It is the foundation that keeps design, development, and production aligned. When every detail is documented, teams avoid errors, save time, and deliver handbags that reflect both creative vision and brand standards.
Onbrand PLM makes this process faster and easier. With live tech packs, connected libraries, and real-time collaboration, brands move from concept to production with confidence. Teams gain clarity, factories stay aligned, and collections reach the market without unnecessary delays.
Ready to see how Onbrand PLM can simplify your handbag development process? Book a demo today and experience a PLM built for modern fashion teams.
FAQs About Handbag Tech Pack
What makes a handbag tech pack a professional tech pack?
A handbag tech pack becomes a professional tech pack when it includes accurate sketches, construction details, measurements, materials, and factory-ready specifications. This level of detail ensures manufacturers can produce the bag to meet brand standards without errors.
Can entrepreneurs use handbag tech packs to present design ideas?
Yes, entrepreneurs often rely on handbag tech packs to present new ideas to investors, partners, or factories. A complete tech pack shows the garment or accessory design in full detail, which makes it easier to secure approvals and move into production.
How can I contact manufacturers once my tech pack is ready?
After preparing a handbag tech pack, you can use it to contact manufacturers directly. A clear document acts as a sign of professionalism and helps factories understand your requirements before sampling begins.
Creating handbags that meet design intent and production standards requires more than creative sketches.
Brands need a structured document that captures every aspect of the product before it reaches the factory floor. A clear guide helps teams avoid errors, reduce back-and-forth with suppliers, and save both time and cost in development.
This article walks through the essentials of building a handbag tech pack. You’ll see what details matter, the tools designers often use, and the steps that help fashion teams prepare accurate specifications for production.
What Is a Handbag Tech Pack?
A handbag tech pack is a professional document that captures every design detail needed to move a bag from concept to production. It works as a blueprint within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) that guides communication between designers, product developers, and manufacturers.
The document explains how the handbag should be made, covering design intent, materials, and specifications in a structured format. Instead of back-and-forth corrections, teams use this technical package to provide factories with clarity at each stage of development.
Key Elements of a Handbag Tech Pack
A handbag tech pack works best when every part of the bag design is documented with precision. Each section plays a role in helping manufacturers understand how to produce the handbag without confusion.
The following elements are the foundation of a comprehensive tech pack.
Technical Sketches and Views
Technical sketches act as the foundation of the bag tech pack. These fashion flats present the handbag in clean outlines, showing construction lines, proportions, and design detail without distraction, and they align with the project’s fashion mood board.
To provide manufacturers with clarity, sketches should include:
Front and back views to highlight style and brand placement
Side views to illustrate depth, gussets, and pocket positioning
Base view to outline support panels, feet, or reinforcements
Inside view to show lining, compartments, and label placement
Exploded view when components need to be separated for clarity
High-quality sketches reduce errors during manufacturing and keep specifications consistent across projects. With angles clearly illustrated, designers, product developers, and factories share the same visual reference before moving into construction details.
Construction Details
The way a bag is built must be spelled out in the tech pack. Panel breakdowns, stitch types, and stitches per inch (SPI) counts define strength and finish.
Edge paint, burnish, skive, and turn are added to show the exact treatments. Reinforcements such as foam or board are included to keep the shape firm and durable.
Clear construction details offer manufacturers precise instructions, reduce errors, and protect the overall quality of the bag design.
Materials and Colorways
When you build your handbag tech pack, make sure it includes complete material notes. Shell material, lining, and interlinings define the look and function of the bag. Trims such as buckles, snaps, and zippers complete the design and affect quality.
Color variations are also important. Pantone references and placement maps show how shades apply to fabrics, hardware, and labels.
And remember to record these details so every bag design is produced with accuracy across factories and samples.
Hardware and Trims
No handbag tech pack is complete without hardware specifications. Zippers, pulls, sliders, D-rings, O-rings, buckles, rivets, studs, feet, snaps, and magnetic closures all need to be specified. Each item should list size, finish, plating, and supplier codes to give manufacturers full clarity.
Trims such as decorative elements, edging, or branding pieces are also detailed here. When hardware and trims are documented with precision, factories can reproduce the bag design without mistakes and maintain the level of quality expected.
Measurements and Callouts
Exact measurements are the backbone of an accurate handbag tech pack.
This includes:
Height
Width
Depth
Gussets
Handle drops
Strap lengths
Inside pockets
Zipper lengths
Logo placements
Callouts mark key specs on the technical sketches. Tolerances show the limits allowed in each area, which helps manufacturers keep bags consistent across samples and production runs.
With clear measurements and callouts, errors are reduced and product quality is protected.
Branding and Labels
Logos, patches, embossing, debossing, and foil stamps all belong in your handbag tech pack. Placement and size must be noted, alongside care labels and hangtags, to guide factories in attaching the correct brand details.
Adding clear specs for branding and labels helps your manufacturer reproduce the design exactly as intended. When these details are part of the technical package, the finished handbags reflect both the creative vision and the quality standards of the brand.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Every handbag tech pack should include a bill of materials (BOM). This list covers shell material, lining, trims, hardware, and thread in full detail. Each entry should also include supplier information, minimum order quantities, lead times, and cost.
The bill of materials helps product developers and manufacturers track expenses and manage sourcing. When documented clearly, it shows the total cost of production, so no materials are overlooked during development.
Costing Sheet
Costs must be documented alongside the design details. A handbag tech pack often includes a costing sheet that outlines labor, shell material, lining, trims, hardware, and packaging.
Freight and waste allowances may also be added to present a realistic view of total cost.
With a costing sheet in place, both designers and manufacturers work with the same financial expectations. It helps brands manage budget, compare factory quotes, and avoid hidden expenses during development.
Testing and QA Requirements
Quality assurance requirements are an important part of a handbag tech pack. Load tests check the strength of handles and straps.
Abrasion and colorfastness tests confirm how fabrics, linings, and leather hold up during use. Hardware is reviewed through pull tests, while metal parts may undergo salt-spray testing to check resistance.
Clear QA requirements provide manufacturers with measurable standards to follow. With these details documented in the technical package, factories can produce handbags that meet both safety and quality expectations.
Packaging and Shipping
Before handbags leave the factory, packaging details must be documented. Notes specify stuffing, dust bags, polybags, and boxes to protect the product. Barcode placement and carton details are added to support accurate handling in warehouses and stores.
When you include clear packaging and shipping requirements, you prevent damage, save money on returns, and help your brand maintain quality.
Make sure to save these details as well to keep production consistent and avoid waste during distribution.
Tools Designers Use To Create a Handbag Tech Pack
Designers often begin a bag tech pack with illustration tools. Adobe Illustrator is the standard fashion design software for fashion flats and technical sketches that show the bag design from every angle. These files cover side views, pockets, and fabric placement, but they often sit in separate folders or projects.
Onbrand PLM solves this with an Adobe Illustrator plugin that syncs sketches directly into the tech pack. Built for modern fashion teams, Onbrand PLM brings shell material, construction details, and measurements together in one workspace.
Designers and product developers connect every part of the project, link it to the bill of materials, and share updates with manufacturers without scattered files.
With one connected tool, errors are reduced and time is saved. Every step of the handbag tech pack stays aligned, which gives teams confidence that the final bags reflect both the creative vision and production standards.
In addition to PLM, Onbrand also offers the AI Design tool that speeds up the creative stage. With Onbrand AI Design, teams can generate design variations, experiment with new shapes, and visualize material options early on.
This helps designers explore ideas faster while keeping everything connected to the same tech pack and production workflow.
How To Build A Handbag Tech Pack In Onbrand PLM
Onbrand PLM provides brands with a clear process for creating handbag tech packs and keeping every detail connected. Here’s how it works:
Centralize product data - Collect sketches, shell material, trims, hardware, colors, and measurements in Onbrand PLM’s libraries. Everyone works from a single source of truth.
Create and manage tech packs - Enter construction details, hardware specs, and measurements directly in the platform. Onbrand PLM generates live tech packs and PDF versions for manufacturer use.
Collaborate in one hub - Share updates with design, production, and manufacturing partners in real time. Comments, approvals, and changes are tracked inside the platform.
Use automation tools - Apply templates, clone styles, and make bulk updates to maintain consistency across projects.
Organize timelines - Plan collections, track development stages, and record approvals to streamline projects and keep them on schedule.
Track samples - Monitor prototypes, note feedback, and manage approvals to avoid production delays.
Access expert support - Onbrand PLM provides onboarding, training, and ongoing updates that enhance tech pack creation.
Why More Teams Are Choosing Onbrand PLM for Tech Packs
Handbag tech packs demand precision and clear communication with factories in the fashion world.
Onbrand PLM gives brands a modern platform to create, manage, and share tech packs without the confusion of spreadsheets or outdated systems, aligning with current fashion technology standards.
Teams using Onbrand PLM report an average 55% faster tech pack creation, which allows handbags to move into production with fewer delays.
Older PLM systems often force brands to use rigid workflows. Onbrand PLM adapts to the way your team already works, whether the focus is on shell material, hardware, or construction details.
Onboarding takes as little as 2 weeks, compared to months or years with legacy tools. Data migration is handled with automation that turns what used to be a barrier into a fast step.
With live tech packs, vendor collaboration, and project management built in, every handbag detail stays current throughout the product life cycle.
Brands see a 4-week reduction in development cycles, which provides designers and product developers more time to focus on creativity while factories receive accurate specs.
Key features of Onbrand PLM
Live tech packs keep handbag specs current and prevent outdated versions
Dedicated libraries for materials, trims, hardware, and measurements
Project management with stages, tasks, approvals, and calendars
Vendor collaboration directly on the tech pack instead of scattered emails
Automation tools for templates, cloning, and bulk updates
Fast onboarding in as little as 2 weeks
Continuous updates are included at no extra cost
Onbrand PLM is trusted by growing fashion brands to manage handbags and other product categories with confidence. Teams often save up to 10 days in data migration and implementation, which means faster collections and fewer production risks.
Shape Future Projects In Onbrand PLM
A complete handbag tech pack is more than a set of notes. It is the foundation that keeps design, development, and production aligned. When every detail is documented, teams avoid errors, save time, and deliver handbags that reflect both creative vision and brand standards.
Onbrand PLM makes this process faster and easier. With live tech packs, connected libraries, and real-time collaboration, brands move from concept to production with confidence. Teams gain clarity, factories stay aligned, and collections reach the market without unnecessary delays.
Ready to see how Onbrand PLM can simplify your handbag development process? Book a demo today and experience a PLM built for modern fashion teams.
FAQs About Handbag Tech Pack
What makes a handbag tech pack a professional tech pack?
A handbag tech pack becomes a professional tech pack when it includes accurate sketches, construction details, measurements, materials, and factory-ready specifications. This level of detail ensures manufacturers can produce the bag to meet brand standards without errors.
Can entrepreneurs use handbag tech packs to present design ideas?
Yes, entrepreneurs often rely on handbag tech packs to present new ideas to investors, partners, or factories. A complete tech pack shows the garment or accessory design in full detail, which makes it easier to secure approvals and move into production.
How can I contact manufacturers once my tech pack is ready?
After preparing a handbag tech pack, you can use it to contact manufacturers directly. A clear document acts as a sign of professionalism and helps factories understand your requirements before sampling begins.
Discover how Onbrand PLM can streamline your product development!
Discover how Onbrand PLM can streamline your product development!
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© 2024 Onbrand. All rights reserved.
