How to Create an Apparel Tech Pack, Part 1: Cover Page Explained

Written by Stephanie Beeching

 

Fashion design goes beyond creating beautiful sketches. It’s about bringing your vision to life with precision. Whether you're just starting or refining your skills, mastering the technical package (tech pack) is essential. A tech pack is your blueprint for production, serving as the primary communication tool between you and your manufacturer. Without it, you risk miscommunication, production delays, and costly errors.

In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn how to create each section of a tech pack, starting with the cover page. By following this series, you'll improve efficiency, reduce miscommunication, and increase the likelihood of receiving samples that align with your design intent.

Why Tech Packs are Essential

A well-structured tech pack helps manufacturers:

  • Determine garment style and construction details

  • Calculate materials and costs accurately

  • Identify correct colors and print techniques

  • Provide specifications for care labels

  • Maintain quality control throughout production

Without a detailed tech pack, manufacturers cannot provide accurate quotes or produce garments to your specifications.

Overview of MultStep Blog Series: 

  • Cover Page: A summary of design details and specifications

  • Technical Design Sketches: Clear, detailed visuals of your garment

  • Colorways: Color variations and fabric selections

  • Graded Specification Sheet (Spec Sheet): Measurements across sizes

  • Point of Measurements (POM): Critical measurement points for accuracy

  • Bill of Materials (BOM): A breakdown of materials and trims

  • Fabric Requirements Chart: Material specifications and sourcing details

  • Construction Details: Stitching, seam finishes, and assembly instructions

  • Renderings and Mockups: Visuals and reference samples

  • Labeling, Folding, and Packing information: Final presentation and packaging

Each section plays a crucial role in minimizing errors, ensuring consistency, and streamlining production. Tech pack pages are often created simultaneously, and not all information may be available upfront to complete each page. This means you may need to revisit and refine sections as more details become available. The process involves going back and forth until all necessary information is compiled, ensuring accuracy before sending the final package to your business partner or factory. Ultimately, knowing the importance of each section and paying careful attention to details can mean the difference between a successful product launch and a frustrating delay. 

Choosing the Right Software

A tech pack can be created using a variety of tools, ranging from basic spreadsheets to advanced Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.

  • Excel or Google Sheets: Great for small brands or startups, but requires manual updates.

  • Adobe Illustrator: Allows for detailed sketches with embedded tech pack data.

  • PLM Software (i.e. AIMS360 or Aptean): Best for automation, syncing changes across the document.

Choosing the right tool depends on your budget, team size, and production complexity.

 

Cover page of an apparel tech pack with sections for style name, brand name, style number, season, contact information, fit block reference, pattern file name, factory details, colorways, size range, style description, target volume, revision date, designer’s name, product category, flat sketches, sample due dates, and comments.

Creating the Cover Page

The cover page serves as the first point of reference for the manufacturer. It provides an overview of your garment design, including key details that will guide production.  

Basic style information included in the header: 

  • Style Name: A descriptive name for easy reference and differentiation between designs

  • Brand Name and Logo: identifies your brand clearly

  • Designer’s Name: Credit the creator of the design

  • Style Number: Assign a unique identifier for tracking

  • Season / Release Date: Specify the intended launch time frame 

  • Fit Block Reference: Indicate sizing based on previous style or block

  • Factory Details: If applicable, list the manufacturer

  • Target Volume: Estimated production quantity

  • Size Range & Sample Size: Define production sizes and requested sample sizes

  • Contact Information: Ensure quick access for inquiries

  • Pattern File Name: Reference the digital pattern file

  • Colorways: Outline color offering

  • Product Category: Specify the type of apparel (i.e. dresses, outerwear)

  • Style Description: Briefly summarize the garment’s key features

  • Technical Sketch (Front & Back Views): A clean, black-and-white technical drawing

  • Detail Sketches/Swatches: Includes close-up sketches of fabric swatches that highlight key design elements, textures, or stitch details

  • Production Timeline & Sample Due Date: Ensure deadlines are met

  • Sample Due Date: Ensures deadlines are met

  • Revision Date: Track updates for version control 

  • Comments & Revisions: Track design updates and modifications

 

The cover page is more than just an introduction—it’s an essential organizational tool that improves communication, maintains consistency, and prevents costly errors in production. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll create a clear and professional tech pack that sets your design up for success.

 

This is the first article in our blog series How to Create an Apparel Tech Pack. In the next part of the series, we'll break down how to create accurate technical design sketches that manufacturers can easily interpret. Stay tuned!

 

Part 2: Mastering Technical Design Sketches

Part 3: Developing the Colorways Page

Part 4: Constructing A Graded Specification Sheet

Part 5: Building the Point of Measurement (POM) Page

Part 6: Crafting a Bill Of Materials (BOM)

Part 7: Assembling The Construction Details Page

Part 8: Forming The Renderings and Mockups Page

Part 9: Establishing The Labeling, Folding, and Packaging Information

Part 10: Understanding the Terminology