Starting a Clothing Brand? Here Is Your Tech Pack Checklist
Essential tech pack guide for new clothing brands — what manufacturers need, common mistakes to avoid, and how AI tools simplify the process.
Why tech packs are non-negotiable for new brands
New clothing brands often try to shortcut the tech pack process — sending manufacturers reference photos, sketches, and verbal instructions instead of formal specifications. This approach consistently leads to samples that miss the mark, multiple revision rounds, and wasted time and money.
Manufacturers work from tech packs. A complete tech pack is the single most important document in your production process. Investing time in creating accurate tech packs before sampling saves multiples of that time in revisions.
What manufacturers expect from your tech pack
At minimum, manufacturers need: flat sketches showing front and back construction, a complete BOM listing all materials, point-of-measure specifications for your base size, and construction notes specifying seam types and assembly details.
Better tech packs also include: graded size charts, colorway definitions with color codes, label and packaging specifications, and quality standards. The more complete your tech pack, the closer your first sample will be to your intent.
Common tech pack mistakes new brands make
New brands typically make these mistakes on their first tech packs:
- Using reference photos instead of flat sketches — manufacturers need technical drawings, not lifestyle imagery
- Missing measurements — providing only 3-4 POMs when 10-15 are needed for accurate production
- Vague construction notes — saying 'standard seams' instead of specifying seam types and stitch counts
- No size grading — providing only one size and expecting the manufacturer to grade
- Inconsistent units — mixing inches and centimeters within the same document
- Missing material specs — listing 'cotton' without specifying weight, composition, or finish
Tech pack checklist for your first collection
Use this checklist for every style in your first collection.
- Cover page with style name, number, season, brand, date
- Front and back flat sketches with construction callouts
- BOM with fabric composition, weight, color codes for every material
- Measurements for 10+ POMs with tolerance ranges
- Graded size chart if producing multiple sizes
- Construction notes with seam types and stitch specs
- Colorway definitions with hex codes per component
- Care label content and placement
- Quality notes: any specific requirements or standards
How AI simplifies tech packs for new brands
AI tech pack generators solve the biggest challenge new brands face: you know what you want your garment to look like, but you may not know how to write production-grade specifications for it.
With AI, describe your garment in plain language and get a complete tech pack with category-appropriate defaults. The AI handles seam specifications, measurement selection, grading calculations, and BOM organization — knowledge that would otherwise require technical design training.
After the tech pack: what happens next
Once your tech pack is complete, send it to 2-3 manufacturers for quoting. Compare quotes not just on price but on minimum order quantities, lead times, and how well each manufacturer understood your tech pack.
The manufacturer that asks the fewest clarifying questions about your tech pack is usually the one that will produce the most accurate first sample. Complete tech packs attract better manufacturers because they signal professionalism and reduce the manufacturer's risk.