The conversation about tech packs usually revolves around the factory. It is true that tech packs are a useful tool to communicate information about your design to your factory — and many factories require them. Factories aren’t the only ones who benefit from a thorough tech pack, though. In many ways, there are just as useful to you as the designer. Let’s take a second look at the sections of a tech pack and talk about what’s in it for you.
The first section of a tech pack is the cover page. The cover page contains all the basic style information such as the style number, size range, style description, and product category. It will also contain a flat sketch in black and white showing the front and back of the garment. Colorways are also listed briefly here. Another large section tracks all revisions and changes made to the style/tech pack.
As the designer, the cover page is a quick reference document to find all the style information in one spot. It’s the page that keeps things organized.
During development, as changes are being made and information is being filled in, the comments and revisions section will be a life-saver. You’ll be able to look back at the history of the style and easily see what you changed when and why. Perhaps you had to change hardware to save on cost, or add a seam to a piece to get a better yield. These notes will help refresh your memory for the current piece, but also help guide development for future styles.