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Design 2 January 2026 7 min read

What Is a Tech Pack? The Blueprint Behind Every Custom Garment

By The Velocity Wear Team

A tech pack is the single document that turns “I have an idea for a hoodie” into a garment a factory can make exactly as you imagined. It is the blueprint of your product — and for anything beyond a simple print on a blank, it is what separates a clean production run from an expensive guessing game.

What goes in a tech pack

  • Technical drawings — flat front and back views of the garment.
  • Measurements & grading — every key measurement at every size.
  • Materials — the fabric, GSM, trims, thread and hardware (the bill of materials).
  • Construction details — stitch types, seams and finishing.
  • Artwork & placement — exact positions and sizes for prints or embroidery.
  • Colourways — Pantone references for fabric and print.
  • Labels & packaging — neck labels, hang tags and how it is packed.

Why it matters

A tech pack removes ambiguity. It lets a manufacturer quote accurately (because they know exactly what they are making), reduces sampling rounds and mistakes, and — crucially — makes your product repeatable, so the tenth reorder matches the first. Without one, every detail becomes an assumption, and assumptions are where cost and disappointment live.

Do you actually need one?

It depends on the product. If you are printing your logo on a quality blank, you do not need a full tech pack — a clear artwork file, placement and garment choice are enough. But if you are designing a custom cut-and-sew garment from scratch (your own pattern, fabric and construction), a tech pack is essential.

A tech pack is cheaper than a reprint. Every detail you specify up front is a mistake you do not pay for later.

How to create one

You can build a tech pack yourself with a designer or tech-pack template, or work with a manufacturer who helps you develop it. Either way, be specific: vague instructions get vague results. The more precisely you define the garment, the closer your first sample will be to what you pictured.

Velocity Wear helps brands turn artwork and references into production-ready specs, and produces both decorated blanks and custom cut-and-sew pieces to your tech pack. Share your concept for a free quote and a sampling plan.

FAQ

Quick Answers

Common questions about design — answered.

A tech pack is the technical blueprint of a garment — drawings, measurements, materials, construction, artwork placement, colourways and packaging — that tells a manufacturer exactly how to make it, enabling accurate quotes and consistent production.

Not for printing your design on a quality blank — a clear artwork file and placement are enough. But for a custom cut-and-sew garment designed from scratch, a tech pack is essential.

Bring your idea to life

Premium custom apparel from a 20-piece minimum, made and shipped to the UK, USA, Europe and worldwide. Send your design for a free, itemised quote.

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