Why Quality Tech Packs Are the Unsung Hero of Successful Fashion Brands
Tech packs are the blueprint of the fashion world. Whether you're developing a swimwear line or producing a ready-to-wear capsule, a clear, comprehensive, and well-maintained tech pack (TP) is the difference between seamless production and costly delays.
After 13+ years in fashion design and product development, I’ve worked with brands of every size, from startups to global retailers, and there’s one thing that always holds true: your tech pack is only as powerful as the information it holds. So let’s talk about what makes a tech pack great, and why investing the time up front leads to fewer samples, fewer headaches, and better long-term results.
Format Matters: Why Excel Wins Over Illustrator
While Adobe Illustrator is a favorite for designers (It can make things real perdy!), it’s not the ideal tool for managing production documentation. Excel (or Google Sheets) wins when it comes to functionality, shareability, and real-time updates.
Here’s why Excel is better:
✅ Easy to update across multiple teams
✅ Easier to create and manage grade formulas
✅ Better for managing evolving fit notes and cost changes
✅ Allows for linked tabs (fit, POs, feedback)
✅ Streamlines data input on multiple pages at once
✅ Easy to export into PDFs for vendors
✅ More user-friendly for factories that may not use Illustrator
Pro tip: Keep your design/CADs in Illustrator and embed them as images or links in your Excel TP. You get the best of both worlds. (Extra Pro Tip: if using screenshots, make sure they are small to keep file size down)
What to Include in Every Tech Pack
At a minimum, a solid tech pack should have:
Cover Page: Style name, season, date, and version history
Flat Sketches: Front, back, and detail views (with callouts)
Construction Details: Seams, stitches, hemming, linings, closures
Bill of Materials (BOM): Fabrics, linings, trims, labels — with vendors, codes, and colors
Measurement Spec Sheet: Graded specs across all sizes
Fit Comments Tab: A running record of changes across samples
Sample Tracking: Proto, SMS, PP, TOP with delivery and approval status
Colorways: Swatch references, print names, Pantones
Labeling & Packaging Requirements
The more clarity you provide, the fewer assumptions factories need to make, and that’s where costly errors usually creep in.
Reduce Samples, Maximize Accuracy
Factories can only build what they understand. The best way to reduce your number of samples is to:
Be consistent with callouts: don’t mix inches and cm or vague instructions like “soft finish.”
Add real reference images: for things like stitch type or hardware if it’s not industry standard.
Include fit intent: Whether it’s “Body skimming,” “Oversized,” or “snatched waist,” help your factory understand your vision, not just your numbers. Provide inspiration images where possible.
Get ahead of questions by writing clear, complete instructions (e.g., “bar tack stress points,” “zigzag at waistband join”). Don't leave things open-ended or leave the vendor guessing.
The clearer your TP, the faster you go from first proto to production, which means fewer rounds of revisions, lower sampling costs, and happier launch timelines. Not to mention happier vendors, which makes working together a dream!
Make It a Living Document
A static tech pack is a missed opportunity. Instead, use tabbed sheets to grow and evolve your documentation:
Fit Notes Tab: Update each round with detailed comments, changes, and visuals.
Spec Evolution: Track measurement changes so you know exactly what caused a fit issue, and how to fix it.
Customer Feedback Notes: After launch, include real-life fit complaints, fabric issues, or wash notes to iterate for future runs.
This running history is invaluable when:
Changing vendors
Recoloring or reordering styles
Creating new size ranges
Onboarding new team members
With everything in one place, you stay in control.
Pro tip: When changes are made to the TP note and date them on the cover page to make a quick reference for changes. This becomes invaluable as the team grows and more hands are on each style.
Why Centralized Info Saves More Than Just Time
A clean, complete tech pack doesn’t just help with sampling and production; it becomes your long-term asset. It keeps your brand nimble and prepared to scale by:
Simplifying transitions if you need to switch factories
Speeding up reorders when demand picks up
Helping you pivot materials due to supply chain delays
Informing cost negotiations and margin analysis
In short: A high-quality TP isn’t just for the now, it’s your insurance for the future.
Final Thoughts
If you’re building a brand, whether indie, emerging, or established, tech packs are too important to treat as an afterthought. They're your production foundation, your quality control tool, and your brand's reputation.
As a sustainable designer, I also see TPs as a crucial part of ethical production. When you give your factory all the tools to succeed, you minimize waste, avoid rework, and respect everyone’s time, from the patternmaker to the packing team.
If you want tech packs that do the heavy lifting for you, let’s work together. I specialize in creating clear, editable, living documentation tailored to your brand’s unique vision. Whether you're starting from scratch, updating existing templates, or building a scalable system for growth, I’m here to help you get it right.
Your designs deserve more than guesswork. Let’s make sure they’re set up for success.
📥 Ready to level up your development process?
Download my free Ultimate Tech Pack Checklist and get an inside look at what goes into building a living document, factory-loved tech pack.
Want personalized help? Reach out and let’s build your tech packs together at www.katelycunnigham.com