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by Surefront on Sep 10, 2024 2:20:52 PM
Home > Blog > What are Tech Packs?
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Tech Packs serve as a collaborative document for teams.
They are initially created by designers and sent to manufacturers. Manufacturers then use the Tech Pack to create product samples or to put a finished design into production (depending on the stage of the product lifecycle). Adobe Illustrator is a go-to Fashion Design application that has many tools to facilitate product design.
Tech Packs are primarily used in the fashion and clothing industry (softline) rather than hardline industries like furniture. Tech Packs help to create diverse fashion designs and clothing types, so they must be customizable.
Download The Complete Guide to Fashion Tech Packs
Comprehensive Tech Packs usually include several key elements:
Fashion Flat Sketches: Detailed illustrations of the garment from multiple angles.
Bill of Materials (BOM): List of all materials required, including fabrics, trims, and labels.
Garment Measurement Specs: Precise measurements for each size and component.
Garment Cost Sheet: Breakdown of all costs involved in producing the garment.
Images with Markups and Comments: Visuals annotated with specific instructions and comments.
Product Attributes: Detailed garment attributes, including colorways, sizes, and fit details.
Description, Comments, and Background Info: Contextual information about the design, including inspiration and intended use.
Design Notes: Detailed notes on design elements.
These elements ensure clarity and precision in communication between designers and manufacturers.
Who creates Tech Packs?
Tech Pack creation is largely a buy-side process. Retailers and brands refine and improve design concepts until those designs are ready to be captured in Tech Packs.
Creating Tech Packs involves combining all the key elements discussed above into a multi-page document. Tech Packs contain exhaustive specifications so suppliers can accurately manufacture the intended product.
Tech Packs are sent to suppliers after being finalized by the product development team. Suppliers may have notes on the design. They may think a certain material or design element needs to be more practical or feasible. This is where things can get complicated. Surefront empowers you with Automized Techpacks that are customizable to meet every need you and your team may encounter.
Automating Tech Pack collaboration
Tech Packs sometimes need a little refining after they are sent to suppliers. This can slow product development because Tech Packs are sent back and forth using inefficient tools like email.
Surefront has a solution to this collaborative bottleneck.
Our Tech Pack generator lives on a shared collaboration hub between retailers and suppliers.
Surefront’s platform allows both parties to add comments to specific product fields and to markup visual collateral.
Surefront’s Tech Pack builder saves time in the collaboration process and keeps everything on a single source of truth—reducing errors.
How Tech Packs are used
Once a supplier has finalized Tech Packs, they can use them to build sample items. Or, if they’re further along in the process, Tech Packs will be used as a source of truth for mass production. Tech Packs are usually printed and used by various workers on the production floor.
Tech Packs serve as a reference point for checking the quality of production. They provide a standard against which each piece can be measured, ensuring that all garments meet the required standards and specifications.
Key Elements of a Great Tech Pack
Garment measurement specs
Garment measurement specs are precise measurements for each garment component (for accurate sizing and fit). This includes general measurements like body length, chest, waist, hips, armhole, shoulder drop, and neck opening, as well as specific measurements for details like collar length/width, cuff length/width, and pocket dimensions.
Fashion flat sketches
Fashion flat sketches are detailed, black-and-white illustrations of the garment from multiple angles, including front, back, and side views. These sketches help manufacturers visualize the final product accurately.
They should be as detailed as possible, including all seams, darts, stitches, and other design elements.
Colorways
When designing a product and specifying its colorway in a Tech Pack, it's crucial to detail how different hues and patterns will impact the final product. Clear colorway specifications in the Tech Pack ensure that the final shirts meet your design vision and maintain consistency across production.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
The Bill of Materials (BOM) is a detailed list of all materials needed to produce the garment. This includes the main fabric, lining, trims, labels, and any other components. A well-defined BOM ensures that nothing is overlooked and helps determine the cost and sourcing of materials.
Images with markups and comments
Including images with markups and comments is essential for highlighting critical details and specific instructions. Annotated visuals help manufacturers understand exactly how each part of the garment should be constructed.
Surefront’s Tech Pack builder allows for image markups and annotations right in the app.
Product attributes
Product attributes include detailed information about the garment's characteristics, such as colorways, sizes, and fit details. This section ensures that all variations of the garment are clearly defined.
Description, comments, and BG info
This section provides contextual information about the design, including inspiration, intended use, and any special considerations. Background information helps manufacturers understand the designer's vision and the garment's purpose.
Design notes
Design notes offer detailed explanations of specific design elements, helping manufacturers understand intricate details. These notes provide a clear record of design decisions.
Download The Complete Guide to Fashion Tech Packs
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