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Quick Answer: A good tech pack is not a design presentation. It is the factory's risk-control document. For apparel suppliers, the useful version includes measurement points, BOM, fabric and trim specs, artwork placement, packing notes, QC tolerance, and sample approval rules. If those details are missing, the supplier has to guess, and guessing usually becomes sample rework, slower quoting, or unstable bulk pricing.

A practical tech pack should turn design intent into measurable factory instructions.

Tech Pack Checklist for Apparel Suppliers: Measurements, BOM, and QC Notes

Published June 5, 2026 · 9 min read

Last updated: 2026-06-05 UTC

The Factory Problem: A Mockup Does Not Tell Us How to Cut

A buyer may send a clean front-and-back mockup and think the factory has enough information. In our experience, that is where many sample delays start. The mockup shows visual intent. It does not tell the pattern room where to measure, how much shrinkage to allow, whether the chest value is before-wash or after-wash, or which trim version belongs in the sample.

A tech pack should separate visual preference from production instruction. That separation matters because cutting, sewing, decoration, finishing, and packing teams read different parts of the file. When all notes sit in one loose comment box, the sample maker has to decide what is mandatory and what is only a design idea. That is risky.

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YTTWEAR Practice: Before quoting a sample or bulk order, we typically check whether the tech pack has measurable rules, not just product images. For blank apparel buyers comparing suppliers, this is as important as price. Browse blank T-shirt options while preparing your base style notes.

Measurement Table: Define the Point, Size, Tolerance, and Wash State

The measurement table is the first section we check. It should not only list S, M, L, and XL values. It should define where each value is measured, what tolerance is acceptable, and whether the numbers are before-wash or after-wash. A chest width value without a measuring position can shift by 1-2cm between pattern rooms.

Measurement Field	What the Supplier Needs	Why It Matters
Chest width	Point-to-point position, sample size, tolerance	Prevents pattern room interpretation gaps
Body length	Measure from HPS or collar seam, before or after wash	Avoids length drift after finishing
Sleeve length	Start point, cuff style, tolerance	Controls fit across sizes
Neck rib	Rib width, stretch, recovery target	Prevents loose collars after wash
Decoration placement	Distance from seam or center line	Avoids print or embroidery placement disputes

For blank apparel, size tolerance should connect to fabric behavior. A 230gsm cotton T-shirt, a pique polo, and a fleece hoodie do not move the same way through washing and finishing. We typically ask buyers to treat measurement tolerance and shrinkage allowance as one decision, not two separate notes.

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YTTWEAR Practice: When a buyer wants a heavy cotton base, we usually ask for GSM target, shrinkage expectation, and size tolerance in the same handoff. If you are still choosing a base garment, compare our T-shirt collection before locking the measurement table.

BOM: Turn Fabric, Trim, Label, and Packing Choices into One Version

The BOM, or bill of materials, is where many quotes become unstable. A note like 'heavy cotton' is too loose. The factory needs composition, GSM target, yarn or knit structure if relevant, hand-feel target, rib spec, label placement, packaging method, and decoration file version. Without that, the supplier prices a risk buffer instead of real production cost.

Fabric: composition, GSM, knit structure, color reference, finish, shrinkage target
Trim: rib, drawcord, zipper, button, snap, woven label, heat-transfer label
Decoration: print or embroidery method, artwork file version, Pantone or TPX reference, placement
Packing: folding method, polybag or no polybag, carton quantity, hangtag, barcode sticker
Compliance: care label wording, fiber content, country labeling, buyer-specific documentation

A BOM also keeps revisions under control. If the buyer changes the fabric after sample approval, the BOM version should change too. The same applies to label position, decoration size, color reference, or packing rule. Otherwise the sample room, sales team, and bulk production team may work from different assumptions.

QC Notes: Write the Acceptance Rule Before the Sample Is Approved

QC notes should be written before the sample is approved, not after a shipment has problems. For apparel suppliers, useful QC notes include size tolerance, shrinkage allowance, color difference limit, decoration placement tolerance, seam and stitch checks, and packing accuracy. This is where the buyer tells the factory what passing work looks like.

QC Area	Practical Note to Include	Factory Use
Size tolerance	+/- range by measurement point	Guides inline and final inspection
Shrinkage	Wash method and acceptable change	Connects fabric finishing to fit
Color	Pantone/TPX or lab-dip reference, Delta E limit if used	Controls batch approval
Decoration	Placement tolerance and wash-care limit	Reduces print or embroidery disputes
Packing	Fold, bag, carton, barcode, ratio	Prevents warehouse receiving issues

In practice, approving a sample by photo only is rarely enough for bulk production. Photos help confirm appearance, but they do not verify shrinkage, rib recovery, print adhesion, carton ratio, or measurement tolerance. A physical sample with written QC notes gives both sides a shared reference.

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YTTWEAR Practice: For sample approval, we typically ask buyers to mark which points are critical and which are flexible. That makes production smoother because the QC team knows where to hold the line and where normal tolerance applies. For more on sample-stage checks, read our sample vs bulk approval checklist.

Artwork and Decoration Notes: Do Not Leave Placement to Guesswork

Decoration details belong in the tech pack because printing and fabric decisions are linked. DTG, screen printing, DTF, embroidery, garment wash, and heat transfer each change fabric preparation, tolerance, and cost. A supplier cannot price accurately if the artwork file, placement, size, color, and application method are still moving.

Send vector artwork when possible, especially for screen printing or embroidery setup.
State placement from a seam or center line, not only from a product photo.
Confirm print size by garment size if the same design runs across S to XXL.
Mark wash limitations when the garment uses vintage wash, pigment dye, or garment dye.
Lock the file version before sample cutting and again before bulk production.

We have seen buyers approve a print scale on a medium sample, then feel surprised when the same artwork looks different on XXL. The factory can manage this, but only if the tech pack says whether the print size scales by garment size or stays fixed across the size run.

Supplier RFQ Checklist: What to Send Before Asking for a Quote

A useful RFQ is short but complete. You do not need a perfect 40-page document for every order. You do need enough production information for the supplier to price the real garment, not a guessed version of it. For most blank apparel projects, the checklist below is enough to start a serious quote.

Target product type, such as T-shirt, polo, hoodie, sweatshirt, shorts, or sweatpants
Expected order quantity by design, colorway, and size ratio
Fabric composition, GSM target, hand-feel target, and color reference
Measurement table with tolerance and sample size
BOM with trims, labels, hangtags, packing, and carton rules
Decoration method, artwork file, placement, color reference, and wash-care limit
Sample approval rule, QC tolerance, delivery market, and preferred shipping term

At YTTWEAR, MOQ starts from 50 pieces per design/colorway. Larger or repeat orders usually get sharper unit pricing, but even a small first order can move faster when the tech pack is clear. The better your handoff, the less the factory has to price uncertainty.

Common Tech Pack Mistakes That Slow Down Sampling

Sending only a mockup image and expecting the supplier to infer measurements, GSM, labels, packing, and QC tolerance.
Changing fabric after sample approval without updating the BOM and measurement table.
Using design language instead of factory language, such as 'premium feel' without fabric weight, composition, or finish.
Approving by photo only when shrinkage, size tolerance, and decoration adhesion need physical checks.
Leaving packing until the end, then finding the carton ratio or barcode process does not match warehouse needs.

FAQ: Tech Packs for Apparel Suppliers

Q: Do I need a full tech pack for a low-MOQ blank apparel order?

A: You do not need an overly long document, but you do need the key production fields: measurements, BOM, fabric target, decoration notes, packing rules, and QC tolerance. A clear short tech pack is better than a long file full of vague design notes.

Q: Can a supplier create the tech pack for me?

A: Some suppliers can help organize your information, but they should not guess your fit, label, artwork, or packing requirements. The buyer should still confirm the production rules before sample cutting.

Q: What is the most important part of an apparel tech pack?

A: For factory use, the measurement table and BOM are usually the most important. They control pattern work, fabric sourcing, trim selection, pricing, and QC inspection.

Q: Should QC notes be included before or after sample approval?

A: Before sample approval. If QC tolerance is added after bulk production starts, the factory and buyer may disagree about what counts as acceptable work.

Q: How does a tech pack affect quote accuracy?

A: A clear tech pack reduces assumption risk. When fabric, trim, decoration, packing, and tolerance are defined, the supplier can quote the real production cost instead of adding a buffer for uncertainty.

YTTWEAR is a China-based B2B blank apparel supplier offering T-shirts, polos, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, and custom apparel support for brands, wholesalers, print shops, and uniform buyers.