What is a Fashion Techpack for?
A Technical Pack is a fact sheet that designers create to communicate with a manufacturer all the components needed to build a product. Typically, designers will include measurements, materials, colors, trim, hardware, grading, labels, tags, etc. Any crucial aspects of your design should be described in your technology package. The more detailed a technology package is, the less room for error there will be.
Tech packs are a crucial part of the fashion industry. They are the 'blueprints' of your garment or accessory that are needed to take your product from concept to creation. Building tech packs is a necessary part of a fashion designer or technical designer's job and is often a sought-after skill when looking for a job in the industry.
Tech packs are used to effectively communicate your designs to factories to turn your design into a 'first sample' (essentially the first prototype of your garment). Fashion Tech Packs describe each element of the garment, including fabric, seams, hardware, measurements, and more.
What is a Fashion Tech Pack?
In a nutshell, a Fashion Tech Pack or specification pack is a packet of information that is firstly sent to factories to purchase prices for making their samples.
Once you have selected your factory, they will use the package as a blueprint for the production of your sample, as it contains all the components necessary to manufacture it.
With this essential tool at hand, and after your samples have been approved, you can move your production to any factory anywhere you like.
You can use your Fashion Tech Pack as a resource document to purchase materials and embellishments, and for years to come you might refer to it and revisit an old design.
It also puts you in a position of financial security. If the factory chooses to ignore the information on the package and do its own thing, it will be to blame. In the event that this occurs, you will be in a stronger position to request your money back or to seek legal assistance.
The Fashion Tech Pack is the key to making your vision a reality.
As you make your products, you may consult with a machinist and pattern maker, and sometimes a technical designer. The information included in the Fashion Tech Pack will change and develop following product development and tuning meetings. Your Tech Pack notes will help the factory produce accurate, well-fitting garments.
As a designer, you produce the Fashion Tech Pack: the more detail it contains, the less room for error and inefficiency. It is completely under your control. You can think of it as your product bible. Let's take a look at what's inside.
What will you need to create a Fashion Techpack?
Technical Drawings: A clean line drawing of the garment with a front and back view.
Reference Materials: Magazine images that reference the finishes and details you would like on your products.
Samples of finishes and special techniques
Packaging information: How are the products packaged, ie in cellophane bags or boxes?
A pattern: a professional pattern of the garment with all the relevant information included in it. The factory sometimes offers a pattern making service, or you will have to find a pattern cutter.
Sample Measurement Specification Sheet: This document is given to the factory if the pattern is to be made by them. Some factories will only use homemade patterns. It must include the following:
SKETCH: front and back drawing with the details of the measurements of the garment. Drawn by hand or by computer.
MEASUREMENT CHART: This will contain the different size measurements of the required item.
Comments – Notes taken when reviewing a sample for approval. These must be included in the Fashion Tech Pack. Remember to include the dates. This way you can easily track the changes you have made and share them with the factory.
Specification Sheet (commonly known as Specifications) – Provided to the factory when a sample is required or an order must be placed. It must be reissued whenever changes are made to the garment. It must include the following:
SKETCH: front and back drawing with the details of the measurements of the garment. Drawn by hand or by computer.
MATERIAL DETAILS: Samples, product code, fiber content and supplier details.
MEASUREMENT CHART: This will contain the different size measurements of the required item. It will be used to check that the measurements are correct in the finished garment.
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS: Information on the type of printing on the product and its location.
EMBROIDERY INSTRUCTIONS: Regarding the type of embroidery, its size and location.
STITCH INSTRUCTIONS: In reference to the type of stitch, the thread to be used and the length of the stitch.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: In reference to the washing of finishes for garments such as denim garments.
ACCESSORY INSTRUCTIONS: Trim Details: Fasteners with product codes, fiber content and supplier details are required.
LABEL INSTRUCTIONS: Location details for brand logo labels and care labels.
COMMENTS SECTION: Used by the factory to take note of anything related to the construction of the product.
Indicates elements that are very important when preparing a Tech Pack garment
What are the benefits of the specification sheet?
There are many benefits to a spec sheet, and in my experience it pays to get it right.
Helps factories save time in selecting/contacting fabric and trim suppliers.
It allows the cost calculation process to be more efficient.
It can be used to create a pattern if it is made at the factory.
Provide Points of Measurement (PoM) that will be used to compare measurements to the finished garment.
It prevents errors from being made in the sampling process.
So is the Fashion Tech Pack absolutely essential for successful fashion communication and design? Yes. Yes. YES!!!
You will have credibility with manufacturers and have a clear overview of what you are creating and how it is developing. There are too many variables for you to keep track of.
Remember, all of this information is required for EVERY product you create. It's obvious that you'll have to work carefully and methodically to put it all together in a style that works for you, and you may even need to call in a few favors.
Compiling a technical pack for your design ideas will be the key to opening the door to that mysterious world of fashion you want to enter. Without one, and as someone with no experience or knowledge of the industry, the factories will not take care of you and you will face a lot of problems.
For example, you might assume that the factory can read your mind and understand your brand, vision, or style. They can look at their drawings and listen to their descriptions and choose the correct color of sewing thread, decide the number of stitches used per inch, calculate the location of the pockets and get their materials. They can calculate the cost of your samples. But it doesn't work like that. In reality, you will need to make all the decisions related to how you would like your garment to look. Without this information, you are likely to receive poorly made and ill-fitting garments, and you will have to pay again to have them remade.
Check out our Techpack Templates or contact us and we will make your techpacks!
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