An apparel tech pack is inevitable for garment production. Although hiring a tech pack designer to assist you is good, here are some ways to make your fashion tech packs. Communicating what you think or visualize to another person is not easy. As a creative, you do research, spending hours creating your design concepts. You collect inspiration from different sources and try to put things together. So, there is a specific design idea you have in your mind. If you are good at sketching, you are lucky. However, 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 to convert 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

Providing complete technical style detailing is essential when working with a clothing manufacturer. Without these, factories cannot ensure the accuracy of your style idea, resulting in potential rework, wasted time, and additional costs. Most factories expect brands to provide a tech pack for each style. A tech pack is a blueprint outlining the necessary steps and covering every design aspect. It is a valuable tool for presenting the style idea in a format that every factory can understand and follow. However, creating a tech pack that simplifies the production process rather than adding complexity is crucial. As a technical designer, I have encountered tech packs that are more confusing than helpful. To better understand 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 is a valuable tool for visually communicating these ideas. The tech pack allows you to express your concept and idea through detailed sketches and specific detailing. It is crucial to provide a comprehensive view of the style by including a detailed sketch with three views of the garment: front, back, and side. These views, often called 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. The garment manufacturing process can be divided into 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 suit every style. The choice of cloth 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 proper fabric selection according to the style is vital for achieving product accuracy.

Colors :

Color plays a significant role in driving sales in the dynamic and challenging fashion industry. It defines a brand’s identity, creates a specific mood, and occupies space. The industry uses the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) system to select fabric colors. 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, mainly 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 minor components of garment detailing, their importance cannot be overlooked. In the apparel tech pack, the designer must 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 sampling and production. 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: primary materials and auxiliary materials. Main materials include fabric, lining, rib, etc., while auxiliary materials include embellishment trims, labels, tags, and packaging. The designer must mention the materials used in a style and their placement. Although including all this information on a single page may seem challenging, 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 to 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 incorporating 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 correct placement and coordinating colors that enhance the style. The embellishment elevates the garment’s appearance, making it stand out. However, it is equally essential to ensure that the cost of these additions remains affordable for the customer. A tech pack designer is responsible for including 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. A middle size, such as M or L, is recommended 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.

Proper Way to Prepare a Fashion Tech Pack

To ensure a clear and understandable 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 none 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 I know, no automated software is currently available to 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 to your apparel production complication, 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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