SIP by Stephanie Ip

stephanieip.comMarch 7, 2019March 14, 20192019, Design + Development, Fashion + Soft Goods

In today’s day and age, there are many aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own brand. If you are reading this, you are most likely operating or looking into starting a physical product brand. Is that right?

Throughout my career in the industries of fashion and consumer products, the most frequently asked questions often go toward production. “How can I turn my idea into a reality product?” Once one gets closer to knowing the process of manufacturing, tons of questions start to come up. Such as…

“What is a tech pack?”

In short, Tech Pack stands for Technical Package. It is a package of detailed information about the item one is looking to produce. The terminology is most often used in the manufacturing industry for consumer products. It serves as a blueprint of the product, including layers of information for the factory to follow in the manufacturing process. Below you will find a general list of items a tech pack typically includes.

Technical Drawing Page

Before the digital age, the drawing was generally hand-drawn and outlined with black ink. Now with software tools such as Adobe Illustrator, it has become easier to create technical drawings with the power to manipulate sizing and to add various line details to indicate construction needs.

Here’s an example of a technical drawing of a men’s basic tee. There are suggestions for the shape and size of the design, stitching details, and placement of labels.

Callouts

Everyone’s interpretation of the fit of a garment can vary, so even though the drawing suggests a lose fit in the designer’s point of view, in the factory’s understanding, the fit can look like a straight fit. Therefore, the callouts can ensure the designer clearly communicates the measurement specifics to the pattern maker at the factory.

For example, do you see the blue brackets and numbers over the technical drawing above? Those are the call outs to be identified on the specs sheet.

Specs Sheet

Moving on! Let’s get the measuring tape out. By providing measurements to the design, you are communicating to the pattern maker the exact size you have in mind for the design’s shape and fit. Numbers are a universal language, but don’t forget there are different types of measuring units. Depending which factory you are planning to use, you want to make sure your specs are in the correct measuring units to avoid confusion down the road.

Tip:

European and Asian countries use centimeters (cm)
USA uses inches (in)

Bill of Materials

So, you found a special fabric you plan to use for your design, how should you include the details?
First, you will want to find out what type of fiber content and weight it holds. The factory can’t read your mind, so you want to provide as much clear information as possible. If you have physical reference samples to provide, the better. Gather all the details and put them on a single page.

There’s a lot more that goes into a comprehensive tech pack. If you are looking to build one out yourself, you are in luck! To get you started, we have put together a Tech Pack Starter Kit for self starter to use. It is a template where you simply enter data, save, and then print! Download our free Tech Pack Starter Kit now.

If you are stuck, and looking for some help, we are just an email away! Reach out to us here.

// Stephanie Ip

Stephanie is a Creative Director and Consultant, providing creative strategy development support to small and large scale businesses in the industries of Fashion and Soft Goods. She specializes in Design and Development. Learn more about her here.

More Posts | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn