How to Create a Tech Pack for Your Fashion Line (2026 Guide)

, Co-founder & CEO, The F* Word

Short answer: To create a tech pack, document one garment so completely that a factory can sample it without asking questions: a cover sheet, front and back technical flats, a bill of materials, points of measure with tolerances and a size range, construction and stitching notes, artwork and label placement, and colourways. By hand this takes 4 to 16 hours per style (State of AI Fashion 2026). The F* Word drafts the BOM, points of measure and construction notes from a sketch, photo or brief in 8 to 10 minutes, then you review it.

The sections every tech pack needs

Section	What it contains
Cover sheet	Style name and number, season, brand, date, version, contact
Technical flats	Front and back flat drawings to scale, with seams, stitching and details
Bill of materials (BOM)	Fabrics, trims, thread, labels, packaging: composition, supplier, colour, quantity, placement
Points of measure (POM)	How each measurement is taken, base size, tolerances, graded size range
Construction notes	Seam and stitch types, stitches per inch, finishes, special instructions
Artwork and labels	Print and embroidery placement and size, label positions
Colourways	Colour combinations mapped to BOM items
Revision log	What changed, when and why

Manual vs AI tech pack creation: side-by-side comparison table

Step by step

Start from an approved design. Changes after the pack is written are where errors creep in.
Draw the technical flats. Front and back, to scale, with seams, topstitching and details visible.
Write the BOM. Every fabric, trim, thread, label and packaging item, with composition, weight, supplier, colour and quantity.
Set the points of measure. Measure the base size, define how each point is measured, add tolerances, then grade across the size range.
Add construction notes. Seam types, stitch types and SPI, finishes, and anything unusual.
Place artwork and labels. Positions, sizes and methods (print, embroidery, woven label).
Check it. Every material in the notes is in the BOM; every measurement has a tolerance; colourways match the BOM.
Version it. Date each revision and record what changed after each sample.

What factories send back

Missing measurements or tolerances, so they guess.
Vague materials ("cotton jersey" with no weight or composition).
Trims in the flats but not in the BOM.
No construction notes for seams and finishes.
Conflicting versions after several revisions.

Each of these adds a question, a delay or a wrong sample. A sample round costs US$200 to US$1,500 (State of AI Fashion 2026).

By hand, freelance or AI

Method	Time per style	Cost	Good for
By hand (Illustrator + spreadsheet)	4 to 16 hours (report)	Your time; Illustrator US$22.99 a month	Full control, few styles
Freelance technical designer	Days, depending on the freelancer	US$125 to US$1,900 per style, about US$300 on average (report)	Complex garments, no in-house skills
The F* Word	First draft in 8 to 10 minutes; 45 to 90 minutes reviewed and released (report)	Free workspace (75 credits, personal use); Pro US$299 a month	Many styles, consistent packs, checks before handoff

Prices and features checked on each vendor's own website on 8 November 2026; time and sample-cost figures from the State of AI Fashion 2026 report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a tech pack include?

A cover sheet, technical flats, bill of materials, points of measure with tolerances and size range, construction notes, artwork and label placement, colourways and a revision log.

How long does it take to make a tech pack?

By hand, 4 to 16 hours per style (State of AI Fashion 2026). The F* Word produces a first draft in 8 to 10 minutes; reviewed and released, 45 to 90 minutes.

How much does a tech pack cost?

Freelance tech packs run from US$125 to US$1,900 per style, about US$300 on average (State of AI Fashion 2026). Doing it yourself costs your time plus software.

Can I make a tech pack without Illustrator?

Yes. You can draw flats in free tools such as Inkscape, use a spreadsheet for the BOM and measurements, or generate the pack with an AI tech pack tool.

Do factories accept AI-generated tech packs?

Factories care about completeness and consistency, not how the pack was made. Review every AI draft before sending it.

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