What is a tech pack in Fashion?
The clothing tech pack is a crucial stage of the fashion design process that helps clothing manufacturers develop a clothing line based on the specifications mentioned in the tech pack. Clothing manufacturers create the fashion tech pack before they start the production of the clothing line.
It’s a technical document with all the information and specifications about the clothing product. In the fashion industry, it’s the master document that fashion designers create for the production team. The tech pack is also shared with the consumers and brands to confirm the final production of the clothing line.
Why is the tech pack important?
The apparel tech pack fashion is an essential stage of the clothes design process. The fashion experts visualize the tech pack and add all the details so that the production and manufacturing team can easily understand the important points of the apparel project.
A tech pack for clothing helps give manufacturers a clear idea about what they are manufacturing. This ensures error-free manufacturing. Also, the tech pack works as a checklist to ensure that all the specifications are added to a clothing line.
Here are a couple of reasons why clothing design tech packs are important
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Improves communication and prevents mistakes
A detailed and strong tech pack can help reduce the significant mistakes that can lead to delays and waste of money. The tech pack ease communication and reduces errors between you and the manufacturer.
In the tech pack, you can check if the garment is the same that you ordered or according to your specifications. The tech pack gives your clothing manufacturer an idea of how your product will be made.
It contains the technical drawings, measurements, and component details your manufacturer uses to produce an accurate design defined in the tech pack.
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Avoid delay and reduce revision.
An apparel tech pack with details helps shorten the lead times of the product sampling, making it easier for you to bring your product into the market easily and quickly. The manufacturing company can easily plan the resources needed to meet the production capability with a detailed tech pack.
For example, send a tech pack with all the details mentioned in it and the initial price quote. Then, by reviewing the tech pack and all the details, the manufacturer can give you a clear idea about the cost by looking at the requirements, raw materials, components used and other information.
This ensures control over the cash flow. This information helps identify primary settings and changes a manufacturer might want to make before pattern making, sampling and sourcing.
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Act as a production manual
When working with one manufacturer, your whole order gets ready from one manufacturer, although it is passed from one department to another. This reduces the chances of revisions and changes.
This is how your garment tech pack becomes an essential manual that helps every department throughout production. A well-defined and detailed tech pack comes in handy in all processes. Since cut and sew manufacturing is a complicated process that involves keen attention, a clothing tech pack could help track the changes and plan ahead.
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It saves both time and effort.
Once a tech pack is made, you can use it anytime. You need to make slight changes according to your product so the tech pack can be easily manipulated.
Who creates a tech pack?
Tech pack manufacturing is generally done by clothing manufacturers, graphic or Fashion designers, pattern makers, or technical designers to explain the tech pack fashion to the manufacturer. With the help of the apparel tech pack, the production team fully understand the requirements and design.
Working without a tech pack might lead to errors because of miscommunication, delays in production and more.
The tech pack is developed based on the development stages of the product and talks about revisions and changes made.
What is in the clothing tech pack?
An apparel tech pack might seem a standard document with much information and terms to the average eye. But all the symbols and words used serve an essential purpose in the tech pack. Here are some of the crucial parts of technical packs:
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Technical sketches, notes, measurements, dimensions, etc.
The tech pack consists of technical drawings, flat drawings, a 360 view of a product, details about its features, and how it is helping. It shows the front and back views of the design, like packets, measurements, stitching details, seams, and a table containing all the dimensions.
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Materials
It also contains a list of materials and information about the raw materials that will make up your product. It includes everything name, composition, colors, weight, colorways, finishing details, etc.
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Quantity
It also contains a table that shows the quantity you will get.
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Components
This shows the important components used in the production and development of the product. It contains information about the buttons, labels, embroideries, trims, fastenings, threads, tags, stitches, etc.
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Order Details
It may also contain delivery date, address, bulk production details, packaging, etc.\
How to Create tech packs for your clothing line?
The tech Pack Designer creates a tech pack in Excel using the best tips and practices. Here is how
- First, you need to create an excel document and name it with a unique number and style description (like 505- Jeans). In the fashion industry, all the changes are updated to the vendors by numbers.
- Create and format the first page as the cover page and include all the necessary details.
- Factory name
- Information about the fabric
- Colorways
- Base Size
- Date
- Company’s name/ Logo
- 360 views
- Front and back sketches.
- You must make a different page and name them accordingly (Artwork page, construction page, etc.) You can make as many pages as you want.
What is the Structure of the Apparel tech pack?
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Cover page
Flat sketch: It’s a line sketch created in Adobe Illustrator. The flat sketch illustration provides an idea about the garment and construction with the help of a shaping and stitching device.
Float Sketch: The float sketch is a sketch that shows the texture, pattern, color, and drape. These types of illustrations are best for presentation purposes.
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Inspiration page
This page includes the actual garment and style for its reference.
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Construction page
This includes the Description of the methods used. You can see pocket placement, seam finishing, and other specific designs and information that are specific details based on the design and product.
Here are some of the common terms used in the contribution
- SNTS-single needle topstitches
- DNTS-double-needle topstitch
- SNES-single needle edge stitch
Why is a POM in a tech pack for clothing?
A spec sheet is a crucial part of the tech pack. The specs refer to the measurements of the fabric or products. These measurements are called the point of measure. The best practice is to make each POM specific.
The spec sheet records the specs and measurements in a well-organized form, becoming a perfect source for producing a well-fit garment.
Sample tech pack sheet
Figure 1: https://www.taas.nyc/blog/how-to-create-fashion-techpack
Benefits of digital tech packs
Here are some of the top helping benefits of creating tech packs
- Faster to create
- East to share
- One-stop solution for the manufacturing department
- Single source of truth
- Intuitive to use
Wrapping up
So, a tech pack is an essential component before moving to production. It helps to clear things, and you can navigate between different parts of your product’s specifications. With a tech pack, you can minimize your number of samples and reduce the chances of mistakes so that you can bring your product to the market faster. A tech pack is the best option for the private-label clothing business.
FAQs
Q) What is the difference between a tech pack and a spec sheet?
A) A spec sheet can be defined as one of the tech pack pages determining all the finished garments’ sizes and measurements.
Q) Is a Tech Pack Necessary, and how much should a Tech Pack cost?
A) Yes, a tech pack helps reduce the number of samples and allows your product to be produced quickly. They cost from $50-$400
Q) Can I make my tech pack?
A) By following the above guidelines, you can create your tech pack. But you are advised to prepare it by a graphic designer, as finishing, and designs are ensured with them.
Q) Can I hire someone to make my tech pack?
A) Yes, you can hire Zega Apparel. We have a team of professional graphic designers to create a tech pack for you.
Q) How long do tech packs take to make?
A) These are the working documents that are regularly updated. Generally, it takes [days] days to create a tech pack.
Q) Does a tech pack include patterns?
A) Yes. Most manufacturing and clothing industries use tech packs to create a pattern.
