How to Communicate with Garment Manufacturers: Tech Pack Best Practices
Best practices for communicating with garment manufacturers — how to present tech packs, handle sample reviews, and manage production specifications effectively.
Why communication quality determines production quality
The quality of your garments is directly related to the quality of your communication with manufacturers. A manufacturer can only build what you specify. Vague instructions produce garments that do not match your intent. Complete specifications produce accurate samples.
Your tech pack is your primary communication tool. Everything else — emails, calls, factory visits — supplements the tech pack but does not replace it.
Presenting your tech pack to a manufacturer
When sending a tech pack to a new manufacturer for quoting, include a brief cover email with: garment type, target production quantity, target delivery date, and any special requirements (fabric sourcing, certifications, labeling requirements).
Send the tech pack as a PDF — not a link, not a shared document, not separate image files. Manufacturers are accustomed to working from PDFs and will distribute your tech pack to their pattern makers, sample sewers, and sourcing teams.
How to handle manufacturer questions
Good manufacturers ask questions about your tech pack. This is a positive sign — it means they are reading the spec carefully and want to confirm details before starting.
Track every question and your answer. When the same question comes up across multiple styles, add that information to future tech packs. Common questions that indicate missing tech pack information: seam allowance width, shrinkage allowance, care label content, polybag dimensions, and fold/pack requirements.
Sample review process
When you receive a sample, review it against your tech pack section by section. Measure every POM and compare against your spec with tolerances. Check construction details against your notes. Verify materials against your BOM.
Document issues clearly — photograph each problem, reference the specific tech pack section and measurement, and state the required correction. Send consolidated comments in one document, not piecemeal emails.
Using AI tech packs for manufacturer communication
AI-generated tech packs are well-structured for manufacturer communication because they follow standard industry format and include all expected sections. Manufacturers can work from AI-generated tech packs exactly as they would from manually created ones.
The AI chat editor is particularly useful during the sample review cycle — when a manufacturer suggests a construction change or you decide to modify a measurement, update the tech pack through chat and re-export an updated PDF. This keeps your tech pack as the single source of truth throughout development.
Building strong manufacturer relationships
Manufacturers prefer working with brands that provide complete tech packs, communicate clearly, and pay on time. Your tech pack quality is a signal of your professionalism and reliability.
Brands that consistently provide complete, accurate tech packs get better treatment from manufacturers — faster turnaround, more attention to detail, and willingness to accommodate rush requests when needed.