The short answer: A tech pack can be created by a freelance technical designer, a full-package factory, tech pack software (for those with technical experience), or a full-service fashion development studio like V.Mora in New York's Garment District. For a first collection, the best choice is usually someone who can connect your tech pack to the next steps: patterns, samples, fittings and production. A tech pack that stands alone often misses the details a factory needs.
I get asked this question all the time. A tech pack is the blueprint of your garment. It's the document your pattern maker, sample room, and factory use to make your product exactly the way you imagined it. Get it right, and production goes smoothly. Get it wrong, and you pay for it in remade samples, delays, and garments that don't match your vision.
Here's a straightforward look at your options, what a good tech pack should include, and how to protect yourself, no matter who you hire.
Your four options for getting a tech pack made
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance technical designer | Brands with clear sketches and a small number of styles | Quality varies widely; most won't help with patterns, samples or factories |
| Full-package factory | Brands ready to commit to one manufacturer | Make sure you own the files. Some factories keep them, and some skip details on purpose |
| Tech pack software or AI tools | Designers with technical and garment construction experience | A template can't tell you if your measurements or construction are wrong |
| Full-service development studio (like V.Mora) | First-time founders, or anyone who wants the tech pack connected to sourcing, sampling and production | A larger investment, so ask exactly what's included |
Why I don't recommend skipping the tech pack
A factory may tell you a tech pack isn't necessary. That sounds like money saved, but it can work against you. Without details in writing, if they use black thread instead of white, it's your word against theirs, and you may end up paying for the mistake. When the specifics are documented, the factory is responsible for matching them.
What a complete tech pack should include
Inside a V.Mora tech pack
At V.Mora, our tech packs are built in Excel with a separate tab for each part of the garment:
Cover page
Style name, number, season and key details.
Sketches
Front and back technical flats, plus close-ups of collars, plackets, zippers and other details.
Colorways
Every color and any contrast (“combo”) fabrics.
Artwork specs and design details
Label placement, logo, embroidery and print placement, with measurements.
BOM (bill of materials)
Every fabric, trim, label, zipper and button, with vendor, price, yield and placement.
Graded specs
Measurements for every size, with tolerances.
Cutter’s must
Each pattern piece, how many to cut, and from which fabric.
TipIf the tech pack you’re quoted doesn’t include most of these, ask why.
How to tell if a tech pack is production-ready
The production-ready checklist
This is the part most people skip, and it's where things go wrong. Before you approve any tech pack, from anyone, check these:
Where did the measurements come from?
Measurements should be checked against a sample or pattern, not just copied from a reference garment or sent over from a third party without review.
At V.MoraWe measure the base-size garment, then apply the grade rules to those measurements. That gives us the measurements for every other size, which the factory uses as a reference when it creates your size check run.
Are the tolerances realistic?
Every measurement needs one. I've had clients ask for zero tolerance, and my answer is that even NASA has tolerances when building spaceships. Your t-shirt will need them too. Longer measurements get larger tolerances.
Is there a plan for revisions?
Your first sample almost always reveals changes. Ask how revisions are handled after fittings and factory feedback.
At V.MoraRevisions are billed at an hourly rate, based on the changes requested in the fitting.
Who reviews it before it goes to the factory?
A second set of expert eyes catches errors before they cost you a sample.
At V.MoraOnce all the information is gathered, we compare every detail against the garment, so the final sample matches the finalized tech pack.
Do you own the files?
Make sure you get editable files, not just a PDF, for your tech packs, patterns and spec sheets, so you can switch factories later if you need to.
At V.MoraThe designer always owns the files. Whoever creates your tech pack, always ask for the editable version.
Why NYC designers work with a full-service studio
Our full development process
A tech pack is only one step. Here’s how it fits into the full development process we manage for our clients:
Sourcing fabrics and trims
Technical sketches and tech packs
Pattern making
Prototype and sample making
Fittings and corrections
Digitizing and grading
Marker making
Manufacturing and production management
Because our Production Manager creates tech packs in-house, and we work alongside pattern makers, sample rooms, and factories in the Garment District and overseas, your tech pack is written for the people who will actually use it. You can work with us on a single tech pack or on the full process, from concept to production.
Since 2008We’ve helped more than 800 fashion brands go from idea to finished product.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, each style needs its own. Different colorways of the same style in the same fabric can share one tech pack.
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You can, using templates or software, if you understand garment construction and measurements. If you're new to production, have an expert review it before it goes to a factory.
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It depends on the garment's complexity and how complete your design is. Once all the needed information is gathered a tech pack turnaround is only 1 week.
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Pricing depends on complexity and what's included, such as sketches, grading, and revisions after fittings. On average $750-$900 depending on detail, sketch, and specs.
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V.Mora creates tech packs in-house in New York's Garment District, at 344 W 38th St, and connects them directly to sourcing, sampling and production.
Ready to turn your design into a production-ready tech pack? Book a free strategy session or email us at vmorainquiry@vmora.com.