: A tech pack is a complete technical document: flat sketches, measurements, construction specs, fabric details and a BOM. You do not need a finished tech pack to start a development conversation — a clear brief and reference garment are often enough to begin.
Tech pack is one of those terms that sends new brands down a rabbit hole of Adobe Illustrator tutorials and freelancer searches before they have even confirmed whether their idea is producible. Here is the more practical version.
What a tech pack actually contains
A complete tech pack includes: flat technical sketches (front, back, detail views), a graded measurement spec across all sizes, construction notes (seam type, stitch density, finishing), a bill of materials (fabric, lining, interfacing, thread, hardware, labels, tags), label and packaging instructions, and wash care guidance.
It is a manufacturing blueprint. A manufacturer with a complete, accurate tech pack can produce a sample without asking a single question.
Do you need one before approaching a manufacturer?
Not necessarily — and this is where a lot of brands waste time. The answer depends on the project.
From our experience: At Monteos, we work from tech packs when brands have them. When they do not, we work from a clear brief, reference garments and a written description of what cannot be compromised. The tech pack usually develops through the sampling process rather than arriving fully formed. This is normal and it is how most good development relationships work.
The exception: if you are approaching a large factory with high minimums and no interest in development work, they will expect a complete tech pack. If you are working with a development-focused partner — which is what we are — you can start the conversation before you have one.
Who creates tech packs?
– Fashion designers with technical drawing skills — most commonly in Adobe Illustrator with a custom croquis
– Technical design freelancers — Upwork, Toptal, or directly through fashion networks
– Specialist services: Techpacker, Canvasflip, or structured templates in Google Slides
– Some manufacturers, including us, will develop the spec through the sampling process
What to do if you do not have one
Start with the best brief you can write. Reference images with annotations, a fabric direction, your target quantity and your timeline. Send that and ask what additional information the manufacturer needs.
The gap between "no tech pack" and "complete tech pack" gets filled through the development process — not before it starts.
From our experience: The brands that get stuck waiting until they have a "complete" tech pack before approaching us are often the ones that lose the most time. Start the conversation. The technical documentation follows the conversation.
A tech pack is the destination, not the starting point. A clear brief gets you there.