What is a tech pack, exactly?

A tech pack is the document that translates your design into a manufactured garment. It contains the technical sketch, points of measure, bill of materials, construction details, fabric and trim specs, label and care instructions, packaging guidance, and a graded size run. A real tech pack is a 12-30 page document that a factory can use without asking you a single follow-up question.

How long does it take to create a tech pack?

About 5-7 days if you know what you are doing. A first-time founder doing it solo will spend 4-6 weeks and still produce something a factory will not fully trust.

How much does a professional tech pack cost?

If you hire a freelance tech pack designer: GBP 200-500 per style. If you hire a tech pack service: GBP 349-899 per style depending on tier. Fabrickly charges GBP 349 for Basic and GBP 549 for Pro, with 2 revisions and a production-fit guarantee.

What software is recommended for creating tech packs?

Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for sketching and BOM creation. For PLM at scale: Backbone PLM, Techpacker, or BlueCherry. For 3D visualization: CLO3D or Browzwear. Most indie brands stay on Illustrator plus Google Sheets until past 30 styles per season.

What is a bill of materials (BOM) in a tech pack?

The BOM is a table listing every material and trim in the garment, with item name, description, color reference, supplier, placement, and quantity. Every trim must answer what is it, where does it go, and how much.

What are points of measure (POM)?

POMs are the measurements that define garment fit. They appear in a table with callouts pointing to the sketch. Each POM needs a location, the measurement at sample size, the grading rule, and a tolerance (usually plus or minus 0.25 to 0.5 inch).

Tech pack guide

How to create a professional tech pack: a step-by-step guide

A 9-component document, 9 steps, and one direct opinion: doing it yourself is a 4-week learning curve. Here's what we actually do, in the order it has to happen.

Photograph: Unsplash