A tech pack is the contract the factory quotes against and QC inspects against. It does not need professional design skills — a clear spreadsheet plus reference photos outperforms a beautiful but vague deck every time.
What a polo tech pack must contain
- Style summary — product name, season, gender/block, target market and order quantities.
- Technical sketches — front and back flat views with callouts for every detail.
- Measurement spec — finished garment points with tolerances, for every size.
- Fabric spec — structure (single/double pique, jersey), composition, GSM, width, finish.
- Colorway sheet — Pantone references, color placements, lab-dip approvals.
- Trims — collar type, placket, buttons, zips, tipping, thread colors.
- Decoration artwork — logo positions, dimensions, stitch/print colors, file formats.
- Labels and tags — neck label, size label, care content, hang tags, legal text.
- Packaging — folding, polybag, inserts, carton config, barcode/routing details.
The measurement page
List every point the factory and QC will measure identically: chest 1 inch below armhole, body length HSP to hem, shoulder, sleeve length and opening, armhole, collar circumference, placket length. Add tolerance bands — roughly ±1–1.5 cm on major points, tighter on collar/placket. The size and fit guide explains grading and size-set approval.
Fabric and color pages
State composition and GSM in writing — “premium cotton” is not a spec. Reference target hand-feel from an existing garment (you can ship it) and list lab tests required (composition, shrinkage, colorfastness, pilling). Give Pantone TPX/TCX codes or physical standards for lab dips; screen colors are not shade standards. Decision background: fabric guide.
Detail callouts buyers forget
- Collar: knit vs fused, stand height, tipping stripes and colors
- Placket: type, length, inner-trim color, bar-tack at base
- Buttons: type/size/color, attachment style, spare-button placement
- Neck tape: color and coverage path
- Hem: vents, back-tail length, bartack positions
- Stitch: SPI expectations on critical seams
Detail customization options are cataloged under customization options and collars and plackets.
Labeling and packaging page
Include exact label text (brand, size, fiber content, origin, RN/responsible party, care symbols), tag artwork with dimensions, polybag text and warnings, folding instructions with measurements, carton size/markings and SKU assortment. Retail routing guides are attached rather than copied. Label compliance: US & EU care label rules; packaging detail: packaging options.
File formats and handoff
- Specs: PDF plus editable spreadsheet (XLSX) so both teams work from one revision.
- Artwork: vector AI/EPS/PDF with outlined fonts; Pantone colors named.
- Version every revision and date-stamp the approved PP reference.
- Keep one column for factory comments and one for buyer decisions.
No tech pack yet? That is normal.
ODM development exists for exactly this situation: send reference photos, target fabric and price position, and the development team produces the spec pages collaboratively. The sampling chain (sample development) then converts the spec into a sealed PP sample.