If you’re designing clothing for production, a clear and complete tech pack is your best friend. It’s the blueprint that bridges the gap between your creative vision and your manufacturer’s execution. Without one, even the most thoughtful design can result in costly errors, delays, or quality issues during sampling or production.

A tech pack organizes everything in one place so your team and suppliers stay aligned from day one. It cuts down on confusion, keeps production on track, and helps ensure your final product matches your original idea.

In this guide, you’ll learn what goes into a tech pack, how to create one step by step, and which tools can help you get it done faster and more accurately.

What Is a Tech Pack?

A tech pack (short for technical package) is a document that explains how a garment should be made. It includes everything your manufacturer needs: technical sketches, measurements, fabric details, trims, and notes on construction. Think of it as the instruction manual for turning your design into a finished product.

For fashion designers and product developers, tech packs are essential for keeping production accurate and on track. A clear, detailed tech pack helps prevent miscommunication, delays, and mistakes during sampling and manufacturing.

Most tech packs also include sections like a spec sheet, cost sheet, and notes for quality control planners. These details help ensure that your clothing comes out consistently, fits correctly, and matches your brand’s standards.

Whether you build it in Adobe Illustrator, Excel, or a modern PLM tool, a professional tech pack is the key to smoother production and better results.

Key Components of a Tech Pack

A solid tech pack helps keep everyone aligned, from technical designers to manufacturers. The goal is to include just enough detail without overwhelming your team or factory. Keeping your documents consistent and clear ensures that everyone works from the same reference point.

Here are the standard components every clothing tech pack should include:

• Cover page - Basic info like the garment style name, date, season, and contact details for easy reference

• Technical sketches - Flat, front, and back views of your design, often called fashion flats, created in programs like Adobe Illustrator

• Specification sheet (spec sheet) - Lists all garment measurements by size, including tolerances and exact measurements needed for fit and quality control

• Bill of materials (BOM) - A full list of materials and trim, including fabric type, hardware, labels, tags, and other components

• Construction details - Notes on how the garment should be assembled, including stitching methods, seam placements, and any special finishes

• Cost sheet - Helps you estimate production costs by breaking down materials, labor, and other factors

• Packaging and labeling - Clear instructions for folding, tags, barcodes, and how the product should be packed for delivery

When done right, each of these sections supports better communication, fewer production errors, and a more consistent finished product.

How to Create a Tech Pack Step by Step

Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how to create a professional tech pack for your clothing designs, even if you’re just starting out.

Step 1: Create Clear Technical Sketches

Start with detailed sketches of the front and back views. These are sometimes called flat sketches or fashion flats, and they show the garment without stylization or movement. Keep the lines clean, accurate, and labeled where needed.

Most technical designers use Adobe Illustrator or similar graphic design programs to draw these sketches. The goal is to help the factory understand how the garment is built, down to specific seams, panels, or stitch lines. 

Include zoomed-in views if any construction details need to be highlighted.

Step 2: Build the Specification Sheet (Spec Sheet)

Your spec sheet includes exact measurements for each point of measure, including the chest, waist, inseam, sleeve length, and more. Use real, actual measurements taken from your sample or design. Also include tolerances (acceptable variations) for quality control.

This section is essential for pattern makers and quality control planners. It ensures the fit sample and future production runs match your sizing expectations. 

Step 3: List All Materials in a Bill of Materials (BOM)

The BOM outlines all raw materials used in the garment. Include fabric type, fiber content, color codes, trim details (buttons, zippers, labels), and their placement.

Be specific. Instead of writing “cotton,” write “100% organic cotton, 200 GSM, plain weave.” This makes sourcing easier for factories and helps maintain consistency in the finished product.

This section also connects directly to your cost sheet and supports accurate budgeting.

Step 4: Define Construction and Assembly Details

This part explains how the garment is made. Include instructions for stitching types (e.g., flatlock, overlock), seam placements, pocket construction, and finishing steps.

If possible, include technical illustrations or detailed callouts to support your instructions. Manufacturers need to understand every process required to complete the piece, especially when garments have multiple components or layers.

Providing clear construction notes also supports better quality control and fewer errors during sampling.

Step 5: Add a Cost Sheet to Estimate Production Costs

Your cost sheet helps track all expenses involved in making the garment. Include fabric cost per meter, trims, labor, packaging, and overhead.

Even a rough estimate can help your team make smarter decisions about pricing and MOQ (minimum order quantities). Cost visibility is important for both internal budgeting and communicating with vendors.

Step 6: Outline Packaging and Labeling Requirements

Don’t skip the packaging section. Here, specify how each garment should be folded, bagged, tagged, and labeled.

Include barcodes, hangtags, care labels, or custom inserts. These small details help protect your brand identity and avoid issues when the final product is shipped to retailers or customers.

This section is especially useful for quality control planners who check every delivery before it leaves the factory.

Step 7: Final Review and Version Control

Once your tech pack is complete, double-check everything. Look for missing measurements, inconsistent details, or outdated sketches. Clean formatting matters too, as your manufacturer should be able to find information without guessing.

Save your document with clear file names (e.g., “Jacket_Style123_TechPack_v2”) and maintain version control. If you're using PLM software, take advantage of real-time collaboration features to keep your team synced as the design evolves.

A complete, up-to-date tech pack helps reduce the learning curve for new partners and keeps the production process running smoothly.

Tools and Templates to Help You Create Tech Packs

Creating a professional tech pack doesn’t require a complicated setup, but the right tools can make a big difference in speed, accuracy, and collaboration. While some teams start with spreadsheets or downloads, growing brands quickly outgrow these workarounds and need something more reliable.

Here’s how teams typically approach tech pack creation:

Adobe Illustrator

Still the standard for technical sketches and fashion flats. Illustrator gives designers the control they need for detailed garment drawings and is often used to create visuals that get pulled into the tech pack.

Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets

Useful for early-stage brands managing a few styles. These tools are often used to build BOMs or spec sheets manually, but as teams grow, it becomes harder to manage updates, share files, or track changes across versions.

PLM platforms (Product Lifecycle Management)

PLM tools like Onbrand replace static files with live, editable tech packs. You can build tech packs using pre-set templates, upload sketches, manage spec sheets and materials, and track every update in one place. Collaboration happens in real time, so your team and vendors are always aligned, without digging through emails or re-exporting PDFs.

If you're just getting started, you may find free tech pack templates online. But for brands creating multiple styles or working with different suppliers, a purpose-built system like Onbrand keeps everything connected, accurate, and easy to scale.

Book a demo and try it today!

What Not to Do When Creating a Tech Pack

Even a small error in a tech pack can lead to costly missteps during production. Whether you’re a new fashion designer or managing a growing brand, staying clear of these mistakes can save time, money, and materials.

• Missing or unclear measurements - Leaving out key sizing details or tolerances can result in poor fits. Always double-check your spec sheet for exact measurements, especially in high-impact areas like shoulders, waist, or inseams.

• Inconsistent or outdated files - If you’re not using version control, small updates can get lost. Keep one master file and make sure everyone’s working from the latest version to avoid confusion.

• Vague technical sketches - Sketches that lack clarity or detail can cause misinterpretation. Stick with professional flat sketches that show construction lines, seam placements, and any special features.

• Incomplete material or trim info - Missing fabric type, weight, or color codes makes it harder for manufacturers to source correctly. Always fill out your bill of materials with specifics.

• Skipping packaging instructions - Overlooking folding or labeling requirements can hurt brand presentation and quality control. Add simple, clear packaging notes in your tech pack to guide final prep.

• Overcomplicating your first pack - Trying to include too much detail upfront can slow you down. Focus on the essentials first, then build in more as needed. This helps reduce the learning curve while keeping your process consistent.

Avoiding these mistakes helps create tech packs that are easier to follow, easier to revise, and easier to use across teams.

Why Leading Fashion Teams Use Onbrand for Tech Pack Creation

Juggling tech packs across scattered spreadsheets, endless email threads, and outdated file versions isn’t just frustrating but also slows down production, increases errors, and drains valuable time from design teams. Fashion brands working in this way often spend more time fixing miscommunications than moving products forward.

Onbrand offers a better way. It replaces all those disjointed tools with a single, modern platform built specifically for fashion design and product development teams. It’s faster, easier, and built to scale with your team’s needs.

Create Professional Tech Packs in Minutes

With Onbrand’s live templates and structured components, building consistent, factory-ready tech packs is fast and simple. Teams using Onbrand create tech packs up to 55% faster, keeping the focus on design instead of tedious data entry.

Always Up-to-Date, Always Accurate

Say goodbye to exporting PDFs and endless email attachments. Onbrand’s live tech packs update instantly, ensuring your entire team and vendors always see the latest information. This eliminates costly production errors caused by outdated versions.

Real-Time Collaboration, Zero Confusion

Collaborate with your team, vendors, and stakeholders directly within the tech pack. Comments, live chats, and notifications keep communication centralized, clear, and organized, saving hours spent tracking down messages across email and chat apps.

Fast Onboarding and Immediate Impact

Unlike legacy PLMs that require 6 to 24 months of setup and expensive customization, Onbrand gets your team running smoothly in just 2 to 4 weeks. With AI-powered data migration, you can start working with your real data from day one. No extra hires or delays.

Effortless Version Control

Track every revision and update effortlessly, so you always know exactly what changed, when, and by whom. Onbrand’s built-in version control gives your team complete visibility, streamlining approvals and eliminating guesswork.

Flexible Vendor Management

Assign multiple factories to a single tech pack while keeping communication, pricing, and internal notes separate. Onbrand makes dual sourcing simple, secure, and fully trackable without extra manual work.

Transparent, Flexible Pricing

Onbrand’s pricing starts as low as $89 per user per month for the Core plan, which is ideal for growing teams. Larger brands can choose from custom Pro and Enterprise options with advanced features like project management, dynamic line sheets, and vendor tools.

Legacy PLMs can cost over $50K a year and take months to set up. Onbrand is faster, more intuitive, and gets your team live in just 2 to 4 weeks, with support and onboarding included.

Build Your Next Tech Pack with Onbrand!

A clear, professional tech pack sets the foundation for efficient, accurate production. It gives your team and your manufacturer the detailed information they need, from measurements and construction to packaging and pricing. With all the components documented in one place, you avoid missteps, speed up development, and maintain consistency across every style.

In the fashion industry, a factory-ready tech pack isn’t just helpful. It’s a must-have. It supports quality control, reduces back-and-forth, and helps your designs move through the production process faster. The more precise your tech pack, the smoother things run from first sketch to final sample.

Using a tool like Onbrand makes this process easier. You can build, update, and share your tech packs in one place. No more scattered files or outdated specs. It’s everything you need to move your fashion design forward with clarity and control.

Book your personalized demo today and start building smarter tech packs with Onbrand.

FAQs About How to Create Tech Packs for Fashion

What does a clothing tech pack include?

A clothing tech pack includes all the details needed to turn your design into a finished product. This typically covers technical sketches, a specification sheet with exact technical specifications, a bill of materials, construction notes, cost estimates, and packaging instructions. Together, these elements guide manufacturers through every step of the production process and help organize the different components that make up your garment.

How much does it cost to create a tech pack?

The cost to create a tech pack can vary. If you build it yourself using tools like Illustrator or Excel, the cost is mainly your time. Hiring a freelance technical designer usually ranges from $100 to $500, depending on complexity. Using a platform like Onbrand helps reduce long-term costs by organizing everything in one place, helping you market faster and avoid repeat errors.

Who can create a tech pack?

Fashion designers, technical designers, product developers, and even founders can create a tech pack. Anyone familiar with garment construction and design details can put one together. For newer teams or first-time creators, starting with tech pack examples or using a user-friendly platform like Onbrand can make the process easier.

Why is a comprehensive tech pack important in the fashion industry?

A comprehensive tech pack ensures your team and manufacturer stay aligned at every stage of production. It includes all specifications, visuals, and other details that reduce back-and-forth, prevent costly mistakes, and help maintain brand standards. For growing teams, it’s one of the most important tools for ensuring consistency across collections.

How do tech packs support quality control planners?

Tech packs help quality control planners work faster by giving them clear specs, materials, and construction details in one place. This speeds up inspections, reduces errors, and ensures your clothes meet the right standards. Platforms like Onbrand also help teams build tech packs faster, saving time across development.