How to Write a Sportswear Tech Pack a Factory Can Use
A sportswear tech pack is the document a factory builds your sample from. A usable one has six parts: front and back flat drawings, a graded size chart with tolerances, the bill of materials, colour references, artwork placement and label and packing instructions.
By the Oversky International team
A sportswear tech pack is the document a factory builds your sample from. A usable one has six parts: front and back flat drawings, a graded size chart with tolerances, the bill of materials, colour references, artwork placement and label and packing instructions. With those confirmed, Oversky samples usually leave the factory in 7-10 working days.
What is a sportswear tech pack?
A tech pack is a set of drawings and tables that describes one garment completely, so a factory can make it without guessing. It turns a design idea into measurements, materials and instructions a pattern maker, cutter and sewing line can follow.
For sportswear, the tech pack matters more than usual because performance garments depend on details: stretch direction, seam type, mesh placement and how decoration behaves on technical fabric. A good tech pack also becomes the reference for quality control, because the approved sample and the tech pack together define what "correct" means for the bulk order.
What goes into a sportswear tech pack?
Every tech pack covers the same core sections. The table below lists them with what each should contain.
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Cover page | Style name and code, season, sizes, colourways, date and version number |
| Flat drawings | Front, back and side views in black line, with seam lines, panels and trims shown |
| Construction details | Seam types, stitch types, hems, bindings, pockets, zips and close-ups of tricky areas |
| Measurement chart | Points of measure, base-size measurements, grading per size and tolerances |
| Bill of materials (BOM) | Fabrics with composition and weight, trims, threads, elastic, zips, labels and packaging |
| Colour and artwork | Pantone or swatch references, logo files, sizes and exact positions for each decoration |
| Labels and packing | Neck label, care label, size label, hang tag, folding, polybag and carton instructions |
How do you write the measurement chart?
Start with one base size measured from a garment that fits well, then grade the other sizes from it. Each line in the chart is a point of measure, such as chest width 2 cm below the armhole, measured flat.
To make the chart usable:
- Name each point of measure and describe exactly where and how it is measured.
- Give the base size in centimetres, measured flat unless stated otherwise.
- Add grading for each size up and down.
- Set a tolerance for each point, for example plus or minus 1 cm on chest width.
- Include a "how to measure" sketch showing each point on the flat drawing.
Body measurement standards help when you are building a size range from scratch. ISO's size-designation standard for clothes, ISO 3635, has been replaced by ISO 8559-1, which defines body dimensions and how to measure them. For an existing range, measure your best-fitting current garments and use those numbers.
How should materials be specified?
Specify each material precisely enough that two factories would buy the same thing. For fabrics that means composition, construction, weight, width and colour.
A fabric line in the BOM might read: "100% polyester interlock, 140 gsm, open width 180 cm, colour Pantone 19-4052 TCX, moisture-wicking finish". Fabric weight is usually measured as mass per unit area, and ASTM D3776 sets out four test options for it, so state a target weight with a tolerance rather than a single number.
Then list every trim: elastic width and type, drawcords, zips (length, gauge and colour), thread colours and any reflective or silicone details. Our fabric guide covers 27 fabric and trim families if you need a starting point.
Where should artwork and labels go?
Artwork placement should be shown on the flat drawing with exact measurements from fixed points, such as "crest centred 7 cm below the neck seam on the left chest". Send vector logo files (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) and state the decoration method for each: sublimation, screen print, heat transfer, embroidery or a woven badge.
Labels need the same care. Fibre content and care instructions must suit the market you sell in. In the United States, for example, the FTC's labelling guide explains the three core requirements of fibre content, country of origin and the identity of the manufacturer or dealer. If you are designing your own neck label, our Woven Label Designer helps you settle the layout before it goes into the tech pack.
What mistakes slow down sampling?
Most delays come from missing or conflicting information. The factory has to stop and ask, and each question adds a day or more.
The most common gaps:
- No tolerances on the measurement chart, so nobody knows what counts as correct.
- Low-resolution logos instead of vector files.
- Colour described in words ("royal blue") rather than a Pantone or physical swatch.
- Drawings and chart disagree, for example a pocket in the drawing but not in the BOM.
- No version number, so old and new files get mixed up.
At Oversky, the specification is confirmed in 2-3 days after the brief, and that step exists to catch these gaps before the sample is cut. You can see how a garment moves from pattern to final inspection on our factory tour.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a tech pack to order sportswear?
Not always. For simple teamwear you can send a brief with a reference garment, artwork and sizes, and we will build the specification with you. For a private-label range or a new garment, a full tech pack gives you more control and makes repeat orders identical.
What file format should a tech pack be in?
A PDF is the safest format for the finished tech pack, because it opens the same everywhere. Keep the working files, such as Illustrator or spreadsheet versions, and send vector artwork separately. Put the version number and date on every page.
How detailed should the measurement chart be?
Include every point that affects fit or appearance: body length, chest, waist, hem, sleeve length, armhole, neck width and drop, plus shorts inseam, rise and leg opening. Add a tolerance for each point and a sketch showing where it is measured.
Can a factory help create the tech pack?
Yes. If you have a reference garment or a sketch, we can work through the specification with you during the 2-3 day confirmation stage. The confirmed details then guide the sample, and the approved sample becomes the standard for bulk production.
What to do next
Send your tech pack, or a sketch with a reference garment and artwork, through the quote form on our homepage. We reply within one business day and will confirm the specification before your sample starts.