How to create a tech pack for activewear manufacturing?

The first page identifies the product clearly: brand name, style name and number, product category, season or collection, gender, sample size, designer contact, creation and revision dates, version number, and development status (Initial / First Sample / Fit Revision / Size-Set / Pre-Production / Approved). Every style should have a unique style number to prevent confusion when multiple leggings, sports bras, or tops have similar designs.

Technical flats are front, back, side, and internal construction drawings showing the garment without a model—clear production drawings, not fashion illustrations. Include neckline shape, waistband height, seam placement, panel lines, gusset shape, pocket construction, strap configuration, hem shape, zippers, drawcords, elastic placement, removable cup openings, mesh panels, bonded areas, reflective elements, laser-cut ventilation, and no-front-seam construction. Use enlarged detail drawings when a feature cannot be understood from main views. Each detail should have a callout number connected to a written construction instruction.

The BOM lists every material and component: main fabric, contrast fabric, lining, mesh, power mesh, elastic, bra cups, zippers, drawcords, cord ends, hook-and-eye, thread, heat-transfer logos, woven labels, care labels, size labels, hangtags, packaging bags, stickers, and carton markings. For each item, specify: material description, composition, supplier reference, width or size, color, placement, quantity per garment, approved substitute, and approval status. The BOM is essential for accurate costing and bulk material purchasing.

Do not describe fabric only as "nylon-spandex" or "soft yoga fabric." Include: fiber composition, GSM (per ASTM D3776/D3776M), knitting or weaving structure, fabric width, stretch direction and percentage, recovery requirement, surface finish, hand-feel description, compression target, color, supplier reference, required certifications, and functional finishing. For activewear, also define moisture-wicking, quick-dry, squat-proof opacity, pilling resistance, abrasion resistance, colorfastness, shrinkage, chlorine resistance, UPF, antimicrobial, and cooling effects. Only include performance claims supported by agreed specifications or test results.

Create a separate colorway page showing how every fabric, trim, logo, thread, zipper, elastic, label, and accessory changes by color. Each colorway should have: color name, internal code, Pantone TCX reference, fabric swatch reference, thread color, logo color, trim color, lining color, and approval status. A physical color standard is more reliable than screen selection. Final bulk color should be controlled through lab-dip approval, strike-off approval for prints, approved fabric swatch, bulk dye-lot review, and defined color tolerance. Every important color should be evaluated separately—dark and light colors perform differently in opacity, colorfastness, surface appearance, and stretch.

Include: seam type, stitch type, seam allowance, stitches per inch (SPI), thread specification, reinforcement points, bartack locations, elastic insertion method, hem construction, binding width, topstitch distance, seam direction, internal finishing, bonding instructions, and seam-sealing requirements. Match construction to function: flat seams reduce bulk in close-fitting garments; overlock for internal assembly; coverstitching for hems; reinforcement at pocket openings and strap attachment points; bonded seams require adhesive, temperature, pressure, and washing-performance specs. Also consider how seams behave during stretching—a visually acceptable seam may fail if thread, stitch density, or seam allowance does not support the required extension.

This is not the same as a body-size chart. A body-size chart describes the customer's body; a garment spec describes the finished product. Include POM number, POM description, measurement diagram, base size, measurement for each size, tolerance, and revision comments. For leggings: relaxed and extended waist, high hip, full hip, front rise, back rise, thigh, knee, leg opening, inseam, outseam, waistband height, gusset width and length, pocket opening. For sports bras: underbust, front and back body length, neckline drop, armhole, strap length and spacing, bottom-band height, cup position and opening, back width. Without a measurement diagram, the brand and factory may measure the same location differently.

The size range should match the intended market. Specify: base sample size, full production size range, grade increments between sizes, measurements that do not grade, measurements with special grade rules, extended-size requirements, and separate plus-size blocks where applicable. Do not enlarge every measurement by the same percentage—different garment parts require different grading logic. Clarify whether sizing is based on US, UK, EU, Asian, or brand-specific standards. A size name such as "M" does not provide enough information by itself.

Show every logo and label location clearly. Include: artwork reference, logo dimensions, distance from seams or edges, placement diagram, application method (heat transfer, screen printing, silicone, high-density, reflective, embroidery, woven patch, rubber patch, jacquard), color, finish, durability requirements, and approved artwork file. Provide editable vector files (AI, EPS, or SVG) rather than only JPEG screenshots. A practical artwork package includes one editable vector, one PDF reference, one PNG preview, fonts converted to outlines, and Pantone color references. The factory should confirm the most suitable production file before sampling.

Identify all required labels: main brand label, printed neck label, size label, fiber-content label, country-of-origin label, care label, tracking or batch label, certification label, and warning labels where applicable. For US textiles, the FTC requires fiber content, country of origin, and manufacturer identification, plus care instructions under the FTC Care Labeling Rule. The brand or importer remains responsible for confirming legal requirements for each sales market—the manufacturer should not be expected to determine all legal wording without knowing the destination market.

Include: folding method, tissue-paper requirements, garment orientation, individual bag type and dimensions, recycled or biodegradable material requirements, suffocation warnings, size sticker, barcode, SKU sticker, hangtag position, spare accessories, carton quantity and dimensions, shipping marks, assortment ratio, and retail packaging. Add photographs or diagrams for complicated folding and hangtag placement. Packaging claims such as recycled, compostable, or biodegradable should only be used when supporting documents meet the intended market's requirements.

Define what will be inspected and what constitutes an acceptable product: measurement tolerances, color tolerance, workmanship, seam appearance, loose-thread limits, stain and oil controls, fabric defect limits, logo and label position tolerance, symmetry, shade variation, and functional checks. Reference an agreed AQL plan per ISO 2859-1:2026 with inspection level, lot size, defect classifications (Critical/Major/Minor), sampling method, and acceptance criteria. Activewear testing may include: fabric weight, stretch and recovery, pilling (ASTM standards), abrasion (ASTM D4966 Martindale), bursting strength, colorfastness, dimensional stability, seam strength, moisture management, drying rate, squat-proof opacity, wash durability, and print adhesion.

A tech pack should remain active throughout development. After every sample round, add: sample version, receipt date, fit model information, photos, measurement results, problems identified, required changes, approved and rejected details, responsibility, and deadline. Use objective instructions. Instead of "make the waistband more comfortable," write: "Reduce relaxed waistband width by 0.5 cm, change internal elastic from 35 mm to 30 mm, maintain approved extended-waist measurement." Instead of "move the logo up," write: "Move logo 1.5 cm upward—final position: 4 cm above left back waistband seam." Every revision needs a new version number and date. Never name files "Final Latest 2"—use clear naming like "Style 1021 Tech Pack V2 – Fit Revision."