Do you really need a tech pack?
A tech pack is useful, not compulsory. If you have one, it saves time. If you do not, a factory with its own pattern room can build the same information with you.
What a tech pack is
A tech pack is the instruction file for a garment. A typical one contains:
- flat drawings of the front and back
- a measurement chart for every size
- the fabric, lining and trims, with colours
- construction notes: seams, stitching, finishes
- label and packing instructions
When you need one
A tech pack matters most when several factories must make the same garment, or when you reorder over many seasons and need everything written down. It is also the best way to hand over a design you have already tested elsewhere.
Starting without one
Most first orders we see start with a sketch, a photo or a reference garment. From there, our pattern room drafts the pattern and writes up the measurements for every size. You confirm the measurement chart, then we sew the sample. By the time you approve the pre-production sample, you have most of what a tech pack would have given you — built on your actual garment.
What still has to come from you
Even without a tech pack, some decisions are yours to make: the size range, the fabric feel, the colours, and anything about the fit you care about. Write these down in plain words; that is enough. The full list is in What to send a factory before asking for a quote.
Questions
Will you sign an NDA before seeing my designs?
Ask us when you get in touch. Your designs belong to you either way; we do not use them for anyone else.
Can you work from a garment I already own?
Yes. A reference garment is one of the best starting points, because it shows fit, fabric weight and construction at once.
What if my tech pack and the sample disagree?
We point out the differences when we go over the sample with you, and you decide which way to go before anything is made in bulk.