What Fashion School didn't teach me about Tech Packs

Daphné Vulliez
Jun 25
4 min read

And why your designs might be getting lost in translation.

When I graduated from fashion school, I knew how to sketch, drape, and draft patterns. I was confident in my eye for design and my technical skills.

But when I entered the industry and was handed a tech pack to create… I froze.

No one had ever taught me how to make one — not properly, at least. My first tech packs were minimal at best. A sketch, a fabric swatch, and a few specs. I thought it would be enough.

Spoiler: it wasn’t.

That’s how I learned (the hard way) that a tech pack isn’t just “another thing” you send to your factory. It’s the thing that holds your production together.

If you’re a fashion entrepreneur — whether you studied fashion or are simply figuring it out as you go — this post is for you. Because what fashion school didn’t teach many of us… is how to make your designs manufacturable.

So...What Actually Is a Tech Pack?

A tech pack (short for technical package) is the document that explains how your garment should be made.

Not conceptually. Not creatively. Technically.

It’s your design, broken down into language the factory understands — no assumptions.

Think of it as:

A product roadmap
A shared reference for your team and suppliers
A quality control checklist
A communication safety net

It’s not about being “industry perfect.” It’s about being clear. And clear wins every time.

What’s Usually in a Tech Pack?

Every brand does it a little differently, but here’s what a solid one usually includes:

1. Cover Page

Gives an overview of the product and generally includes a revision summary and a calendar.

2. Technical Sketches

Simple, clean drawings from front, back, side. Clearly showing seams, designs details and using industry specific terms.

3. Bill of Materials (BOM)

Your garment’s ingredients list: fabrics, linings, buttons, zippers, labels, thread — all of it.

4. Colorways

If the product comes in more than one color, list them here, including any variations in trims or prints.

5. Construction Notes

How things should be stitched, finished, or assembled.

6. Measurement Specs

Your garment’s size chart. Include tolerances too (aka how much wiggle room is okay).

7. Label & Packaging Details

Where does the care label go? Do you want hangtags? Size stickers? Polybags? You’ve gotta tell them.

8. Sample Feedback Section

Track changes across sample rounds. Write things like “Sleeves are too long” or “Why is this neon?” here.

This last bit is really important. Tech packs are not a one time thing, they evolve all along the process and need to be updated up until bulk production starts.

You don’t need to overcomplicate it — but skipping the essentials can cost you a lot.

What Does a Tech Pack Actually Do?

Let’s break down what happens when you do have a proper tech pack (and what happens when you don’t):

It speeds up sampling. Factories love clarity. Without proper instructions, they have to guess. Maybe they give you a floppy blazer when you wanted sharp shoulder pads. Or they switch a seam detail that seemed “optional.” These mistakes slow everything down and they’re totally avoidable.

It helps you get accurate quotes. Factories quote based on what they see. If they don’t have all the info, they’ll guess high or leave room for “surprises” later. A clear tech pack leads to more reliable pricing.

It helps you check quality. Your tech pack acts as a reference point during quality control. Whether it’s you or a QC team reviewing the sample, you can compare the garment against your original specs (measurements, stitching, materials) to catch mistakes before they go into full production and become expensive problems.

It bridges language gaps. Especially with overseas factories, visuals and measurements say a lot more than long emails ever can.

It shows manufacturers you’re serious. Providing tech packs signals that you’re organised, prepared, and won’t waste their time - which means they’ll likely take your project more seriously (and won't try to hassle you).

It protects you. If a product comes back incorrect — wrong material, missing details, sloppy construction — your tech pack is your backup. It proves what was agreed on and gives you leverage to request corrections or renegotiate.

Going into production without a tech pack is like going to the hairdresser and telling them to do whatever they want.

If you're lucky, it’ll look good.

But as we've seen time and time again... it usually doesn’t.

Why This Matters - Especially for Small Brands

When you're just starting out, you're probably doing everything: designing, sourcing, managing production, marketing, maybe even packing orders yourself.

You don’t have time (or budget) for rounds of sample revisions caused by miscommunication.

A tech pack won’t solve every problem — but it will prevent a lot of them. It turns your ideas into something repeatable, scalable, and respected by the people producing your product.

Want to Learn By Doing?

If you’ve been trying to piece together what goes into a tech pack from random downloads and outdated YouTube videos — I get it. That’s why I created something for people like me when I was starting out.

The Tech Pack Bundle is designed for founders and small brands who know their product but aren’t sure how to communicate it professionally to manufacturers.

It’s not for total beginners. It's not for advanced technical designers. It's for the in-betweeners — the real-world creatives building a brand and trying to get it right.

You’ll get a ready-to-edit template, a real example from a complex style, and the tools we use every day to help our clients avoid costly mistakes.

👉 Check it out [right here].