How to Create a Sportswear Tech Pack (and What to Send a Manufacturer)

A tech pack is the document that tells a manufacturer exactly what to make. It replaces guesswork with specifications: what the garment looks like, how big each part is, what it is made of, and how it is finished. A clear one gets you an accurate quote and a first sample that is close to what you pictured. A vague one produces questions, delays and samples that miss. Here is what goes into a useful sportswear tech pack.

What a Tech Pack Is For

Think of it as the shared reference between you and the factory. The pattern maker, the cutter, the sewing line and the quality check all work from the same set of facts. It also protects you: if the finished garment differs from the pack, you can point to the page that says so. It does not need to be fancy. Many first-time brands build theirs in a slide deck or a spreadsheet, and that is fine as long as the information is complete and unambiguous.

Flat Sketches

Start with flat technical drawings: front, back and side views of the garment laid flat, not styled on a model. Show seams, panels, pockets, hood shape, collar, cuffs, hems and any zips or drawcords. Use callouts to point at details, for example "kangaroo pocket, stitched edge" or "contrast panel on sleeve". The drawing does not have to be professional illustration; clarity matters more than polish.

Measurements and Size Chart

Give measurements for each point of measure, such as chest width, body length, shoulder, sleeve length, hem opening and, for bottoms, waist, inseam and rise. State your base size and how measurements grade up and down across the range. Say whether the numbers are body measurements or finished garment measurements, since they are not the same thing and mixing them up is a common cause of fit problems. If your players or customers need a sizing method, our post on sizing a team order remotely helps.

Fabric Specifications

List the fabric type, fibre content, construction and target weight in GSM for each material in the garment: main body, rib, lining, mesh inserts. If you have a swatch or a garment whose fabric you like, say so and describe what you like about it. Vague entries such as "soft, breathable fabric" are hard to quote against. See our guide to choosing fabric if you are still deciding.

Colours, Artwork and Placement

Specify colours by Pantone reference where you can, because screens and printers render colour differently and a name like "navy" means something different to everyone. Supply artwork as vector files (AI, EPS or PDF) where possible, plus the placement on the garment: which location, how large, how far from the seam or collar. A simple placement diagram on the flat sketch makes this unmistakable. State the decoration method too, whether sublimation, screen print, embroidery or heat transfer.

Labels, Trims and Packaging

Note the neck label, care label and any size or country-of-origin labelling you need, and where each sits. Specify zips, drawcords, buttons, elastic and thread colour. Then cover packaging: how each piece is folded, whether it is polybagged, and whether it carries a hang tag or barcode sticker. For brands using our private label service, this is where your own labels and packaging come in.

Packaging is also where small oversights turn into rework. If your retailer or marketplace needs specific barcodes, polybag warnings or carton marking, put that in the pack now rather than after bulk is cut.

Construction Notes and a Final Checklist

Add notes on stitching: stitch type, seam finish, where reinforcement is needed, such as at pocket corners or the base of a zip. Mention anything that must not change between sample and bulk, and record any change you request after the first sample so the pack stays current. Version your files (v1, v2) so nobody works from an outdated copy. Before you send the pack, check it:

• Front, back and detail flat sketches with callouts
• Size chart with points of measure and grading
• Fabric, GSM and fibre content for every material
• Pantone references for every colour
• Artwork files, plus placement and size on the garment
• Decoration method for each location
• Labels, trims and packaging details
• Construction and stitching notes
• Quantity per style and per size

No Tech Pack Yet? Start From What You Have

A full tech pack is the ideal, not a requirement. At Nyxlete we can start from a reference image, a garment you already own, or a rough sketch with a few notes, and build a first sample from that. We make team kits, activewear, hoodies, jackets, tees and sweatshirts, with a minimum of 50 units per style and team sets from 15 kits. Samples take 8–10 days, and you can refine the details over the sample round, which is how many first-time brands arrive at a finished pack. See the process page for each stage, or start from a product on our custom hoodies page.

Send what you have, including a photo, and we will tell you what else we need.

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