An apparel tech pack is inevitable for garment production. Although it is good to hire a tech pack designer to assist you, here are some ways you can make your own tech packs. Communicating what you think or visualize in your mind to another person is not easy. As a creative, you do research spending hours making your design concepts. You collect inspiration from different sources and try to put things together. So, there is a certain design idea you have in your mind. If you are good at sketching you are lucky. But the challenge comes when you have to explain your idea to another person. In the case of apparel production, the factories need much more detail. They need much more information for converting your idea to an actual product. 

What Does a Tech Pack Include?

A Tech Pack is an Instructional Document for the Clothing Manufacturers to Execute Sample Development and Apparel Production. A tech pack includes Fashion Flat Drawing, Fabric Tyle, and color OPtions with Pantone Code, Stitching and Construction Detail, Measurement Pointers Guideline, Detailed Spec Sheet, and Bills of Material. A Factory needs a minimum of this much information to process the design to a finished prototype.

Effective Communication Through Tech Pack is The Key to Successful Production

When working with a clothing manufacturer, it is essential to provide complete technical style detailing. Without these it, factories cannot ensure the accuracy of your style idea, resulting in potential rework, wasted time, and additional costs. That’s why most factories expect brands to provide a tech pack for each style. A tech pack serves as a blueprint, outlining the necessary steps and covering every aspect of the design. It is a valuable tool for presenting the style idea in a format that every factory can understand and follow. However, it is crucial to create a tech pack that simplifies the production process rather than adding complexity. As a technical designer, I have encountered tech packs that are more confusing than helpful. To gain a better understanding of the components of a tech pack, you can learn more about them in the “Components of Tech Pack” resource.

Explaining Idea Through Visual Representation – How Apparel Tech Pack Helps Here

A visual representation is the most effective way to convey your creative ideas, and the apparel tech pack serves as a valuable tool for communicating these ideas visually. The tech pack allows you to express your concept and idea through detailed sketches and specific detailing. It is important to provide a comprehensive view of the style by including a detailed sketch with three views of the garment: front view, back view, and side view. These views, often referred to as flat sketches, technical flats, or fashion flats, present the garment as if it were laid flat on a table or the floor. The technical designer carefully illustrates each view to accurately represent the design outcome, making it an essential component of the tech pack.

The shape of a garment, as represented by fashion flats, is only a fraction of the complete manufacturing process. Numerous other details are involved in creating a garment. Broadly speaking, the garment manufacturing process can be divided into two main parts: material sourcing and material processing for the final product. Let’s delve into each part individually to gain a comprehensive understanding.

Sourcing and Procurement of Materials using Clothing Tech Pack

Fabric :

Selecting the appropriate fabric for a garment style is crucial since not all fabrics are suitable for every style. The choice of fabric significantly impacts the overall look and fit of the garment. For instance, a button-down shirt would not be made using jersey knit fabric, and woven fabrics are not typically used for crafting t-shirts. Therefore, ensuring the right fabric selection according to the style is vital for achieving product accuracy.

Colors :

In the dynamic and challenging fashion industry, color plays a significant role in driving sales. It defines a brand’s identity, creates a specific mood, and occupies space. To select fabric colors, the industry relies on the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) system. This system considers three essential criteria: tracking color trends, recognizing the significance of core colors, and ensuring reproducibility and achievability. These factors enhance usability and efficiency. It’s important to note that the color selection process for apparel differs from other design domains, such as website design. Apparel tech pack designers adhere to specific color codes, particularly the Pantone Textile Color eXtended (TCX) system, widely adopted in the apparel industry.

Trims :

In addition to fabrics, trims play a vital role in creating a garment style. Trims encompass materials such as buttons, zippers, and various embellishments that contribute to the overall aesthetic of the design. Despite being relatively small components of garment detailing, their importance cannot be overlooked. In the apparel tech pack, it is crucial for the designer to provide detailed information about trims, including visual examples or illustrations to showcase their specific detailing.

Bills of Material:

A Bills of Material (BOM) is a valuable tool for sourcing materials during the sampling and production process. It helps organize and streamline the sourcing activities. The BOM comprises a comprehensive list of all the materials required for constructing a garment, both internally and externally. These materials can be divided into two categories: main materials and auxiliary materials. Main materials include fabric, lining, rib, etc., while auxiliary materials consist of embellishment trims, labels, tags, and packaging. It is essential for the designer to clearly mention the materials used in a style, along with their placement. Although it may seem challenging to include all this information on a single page, organizing the apparel tech pack into segments can provide clarity. For a better understanding of how to segment the apparel tech pack based on various aspects, please refer to the components of the tech pack.

Material Processing and Garment Manufacturing :

Once the material sourcing phase is complete, the next crucial step in garment manufacturing is processing. Having a clear blueprint of the processing is essential. Stitching, garment construction, washing, and measurement specifications are integral parts of the processing phase. In the following discussion, we will delve into each aspect in detail. Construction detailing and diagrams play a significant role in achieving a well-fitted garment. There are countless possibilities to showcase these details, and failing to mention them gives factories the freedom to make their own decisions. This can result in poorly constructed garment styles. Although construction details require time and effort, they are essential for avoiding subpar samples. Construction diagram details included in garment tech packs provide clarity on minor aspects. Neglecting this crucial part of the tech pack can lead to unsatisfactory samples and production runs.

Washing / Dying / Printing / Embroidery

The enhancement of a style relies on the strategic use of prints, embroidery, and trims. A designer should carefully consider how to incorporate trims in the appropriate proportion and placement to complement the overall look. Planning this value addition early on, before sample development, is crucial. The focus should be on achieving the right placement and coordinating colors that enhance the style. The objective of embellishment is to elevate the appearance of the garment, making it stand out. However, it is equally important to ensure that the cost of these additions remains affordable for the customer. It is the responsibility of a tech pack designer to include detailed trim information and artwork in the tech pack. Utilizing automated apps for tech pack preparation may not provide the level of comprehensive detail required for this purpose.

Measurement Guideline and Measurement Spec Sheet Integral Part of  Tech Pack

Creating a garment spec sheet is a crucial aspect of collection design. Many brands prioritize and emphasize the preparation of garment spec sheets. The accuracy of measurements plays a significant role in achieving the desired fit outcome, making it a critical factor to test at every stage. The initial step is to establish master (base) measurements and evaluate them by creating a pattern and sample. By assessing the fit of the base sample, you can proceed to develop size gradation. It is recommended to use a middle size, such as M or L, as the base. Then, you determine the complete size range you intend to offer for that particular style, including sizes like XS, S, M, L, XL, and so on.

Size Grading For Pattern Making

Grading is a technique used to adjust the size of a garment pattern according to a size chart. It involves modifying the pattern to accommodate different garment sizes. The pattern master follows grading rules to make these adjustments. The goal is to create a range of sizes for a specific apparel style. The pattern master resizes the fit pattern based on the grading rules, catering to sizes such as XS, S, M, L, XL, and more. Grading can be done manually or with the help of CAD pattern drafting software.

Right Way to Prepre a Fashion Tech Pack

To ensure a clear and comprehensible tech pack for clothing manufacturers, it is crucial to organize and structure the information in a manner that is easy to understand. Having extensively researched automated tech pack software, I have found that none of them meet the desired standards. Therefore, I strongly recommend seeking the assistance of a professional tech pack designer to accomplish this task. Only a technical designer possesses the expertise to transform a raw idea into a tech pack that manufacturers can readily comprehend. As far as my knowledge goes, no automated software is currently available that can present your ideas in a structured format.

At Fashion Studio Urban Purple, we have been serving apparel brands worldwide for over 15 years. Throughout our experience, we have noticed that many brands often request common styles. To enhance our service and provide a faster solution, we have launched an online store featuring a wide range of tech pack templates. Visit our store to explore the variety of styles available.

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Consider Reading The Following Posts

• How to Make a Professional Apparel Tech Pack
• Tech Pack Designer: Planning Collection Line-Sheet
• Freelance Fashion Tech Pack Designer
• Tech Pack Design Components

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