A T-shirt tech pack is a production document that tells a factory exactly how to make your garment. It combines flat sketches, fabric details, measurements, grading, construction notes, artwork, labels, and packaging instructions. A clear version reduces assumptions during sampling and gives both buyer and factory one approved reference for bulk production.
What Is Included in a T-Shirt Tech Pack?
A T-shirt tech pack includes all specifications needed to develop, sample, inspect, and reproduce a garment consistently. Its purpose is to replace vague design language with measurable instructions that a pattern maker, fabric supplier, sewing line, printer, and quality-control team can follow without guessing.
A complete tech pack normally contains the following sections:
- Cover page with brand, style name, style code, revision number, base size, and target market
- Technical flat sketches showing the front, back, side, and relevant inside details
- Design specifications describing silhouette, fit, neckline, sleeves, colorways, and special features
- Bill of materials listing fabrics, trims, labels, thread, packaging, and component placement
- Measurement specification sheet with points of measure, tolerances, and size grading
- Construction pages defining seam types, stitch details, reinforcements, and finishing requirements
- Artwork and decoration pages for screen printing, DTG, heat transfer, sublimation, or embroidery
- Label, hangtag, polybag, barcode, folding, and carton-mark instructions
- Sample comments and revision history
A tech pack does not need to be visually elaborate. It needs to be clear, complete, version-controlled, and easy for production teams to interpret. A simple spreadsheet with accurate diagrams and supporting files is more useful than a polished presentation with missing measurements or unclear construction notes.
How Should a Tech Pack Explain the T-Shirt Design?
A T-shirt tech pack should explain the design through technical flats, written specifications, and visual references that identify every feature affecting production. The factory should be able to distinguish the intended fit, neckline, sleeve proportion, fabric behavior, seam placement, labels, and decoration from the document without relying on a mood board alone.
A technical flat is a clean line drawing of the garment, usually shown from the front and back. Unlike a fashion illustration, it focuses on construction. It should show seam lines, neckline shape, sleeve type, hem style, pockets, panels, ribbing, contrast details, and any visible topstitching.
For a standard crew-neck T-shirt, the design page should clarify:
- Whether the fit is regular, fitted, relaxed, boxy, oversized, cropped, or longline
- The shoulder position, such as standard shoulder, dropped shoulder, or raglan construction
- The neckline shape and depth
- The neck rib width, height, and intended recovery
- Sleeve length, sleeve opening, and sleeve hem style
- Body length, bottom hem construction, and side-seam details
- Whether shoulder tape, side slits, pockets, contrast panels, or woven labels are required
Use arrows and numbered callouts on flat sketches. Each callout should link to a written instruction, a construction page, or a bill-of-materials item. For example, a neck-rib callout should identify the rib material, finished width, color, stitching requirement, and any reinforcement detail.
Avoid instructions such as “premium collar,” “streetwear fit,” or “good-quality stitching” unless the tech pack defines what those terms mean. A production team can execute measurements, material specifications, and stitch instructions; it cannot reliably produce subjective descriptions.
Which T-Shirt Measurements Must Be Specified?
A T-shirt measurement sheet should specify every point of measure that affects fit, proportion, and size consistency. At minimum, it should cover body length, chest width, bottom opening, shoulder width, sleeve length, sleeve opening, neck width, and neck drop. Each measurement needs a defined method, base size, tolerance, and grading instruction.
A point of measure, often shortened to POM, identifies exactly where a garment is measured. The tech pack should assign each POM a code and show it on a measurement sketch. This prevents confusion between similar terms such as body length from high-point shoulder and body length from the center-back neck seam.
| POM | Measurement | How to define it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| P01 | Body length | State start point and hem endpoint | Controls overall proportion and intended coverage |
| P02 | Chest width | Define location below armhole and flat measurement method | Controls body fit and grading balance |
| P03 | Bottom opening | State whether measured flat, relaxed, or stretched | Affects hem balance and silhouette |
| P04 | Shoulder width | Define seam-to-seam measurement points | Influences fit and sleeve position |
| P05 | Sleeve length | Define shoulder or armhole reference point | Controls proportion across sizes |
| P06 | Sleeve opening | State flat or circumference method | Affects comfort and sleeve shape |
| P07 | Neck width | Define seam or edge reference points | Controls neckline appearance |
| P08 | Front and back neck drop | Define depth from fixed shoulder or neck point | Prevents an unintended neckline shape |
The tech pack should identify the base size, which is the size used to establish the first approved measurement set. The remaining sizes can be listed as full measurements or calculated through clear grade rules. Grading is the controlled increase or decrease in measurements between sizes.
Do not assume that a garment sample can replace a measurement sheet. A physical sample can help communicate hand feel and visual direction, but it may not reveal every POM, tolerance, grade rule, or intended construction detail. If the sample differs from the final target, label it clearly as a reference only.
What Fabric and Trim Details Should Be Written Down?
Fabric and trim details should state the intended material, composition, construction, color, weight target, hand feel, and component use. A vague note such as “100% cotton T-shirt” is incomplete because cotton fabric can vary substantially in knit structure, yarn quality, weight, softness, shrinkage behavior, opacity, and print performance.
For the main body fabric, include:
- Fiber composition and blend ratio
- Knit construction, such as single jersey, interlock, rib, or another specified knit
- Target fabric weight or agreed weight range
- Color reference and colorway name
- Surface appearance, hand feel, and intended drape
- Required performance expectations, if relevant to the product
- Intended decoration method and whether it requires a production test
A heavier jersey may improve opacity and give an oversized T-shirt more structure, but it can also increase heat retention, shipping weight, drying time, and decoration curing requirements. A lighter jersey may feel softer and cooler, but it can be less opaque and more sensitive to fit variation.
Trims should be listed separately in the bill of materials. These may include neck rib, shoulder tape, sewing thread, woven labels, printed labels, size labels, care labels, hangtags, polybags, size stickers, and cartons. Each item should have an item number, description, color, placement, material, supplier reference where relevant, and whether substitutions require buyer approval.
LSLONG can use a detailed bill of materials to align fabric sourcing, neck-rib selection, labels, and packaging with the approved T-shirt specification. This gives buyers a clearer route from development sample to bulk production.
How Should Construction Notes Prevent Factory Misunderstanding?
Construction notes should translate a T-shirt’s visual design into sewing operations, machine requirements, seam instructions, and control points. They prevent production teams from interpreting a sketch differently, especially when the garment has non-standard neckline construction, special hems, contrast panels, pockets, embroidery backing, or reinforced seams.
Each construction note should identify the garment area, the required operation, the expected finished appearance, and any relevant supporting material. Use annotated flat sketches or close-up reference images to connect the written note to the correct location.
For example, a useful neck construction note may state that the factory should attach a specified rib to the neck opening, join the rib seam at center back, apply neck tape where required, and topstitch according to the approved sample. The note should also state the finished appearance that must be maintained, such as a balanced neckline with no waviness, twisting, or visible puckering.
Common T-shirt construction controls include:
- Shoulder seam alignment and shoulder tape placement
- Neck-rib width, stretch balance, and recovery
- Seam type at shoulder, sleeve, side seam, and hem
- Stitch appearance and seam tension
- Sleeve setting and underarm alignment
- Sleeve and bottom hem width
- Side-seam label insertion
- Pocket dimensions and placement, where relevant
- Garment wash, distressing, or finishing instructions, if applicable
LSLONG Expert View
“A factory can produce a simple T-shirt efficiently only when the buyer identifies what makes that T-shirt different from a standard blank. The most important details are usually fit, neckline construction, fabric behavior, artwork placement, labels, and packing. If any of these are left as assumptions, the sample may need revision before the specification is ready for bulk production.”
A construction page should not merely repeat the design page. The design page shows what the garment looks like; the construction page explains how it should be assembled and what defects must be prevented during sewing.
Which Artwork Specifications Does a Factory Need?
Artwork specifications should identify the production-ready file, decoration method, colors, dimensions, placement reference points, and approval requirements. Artwork should never be described only as “front logo” or “large back print,” because those descriptions do not tell the factory how large the design should be or where it belongs on each garment.
For each graphic, include:
- Artwork identification number and file name
- Decoration method, such as screen printing, DTG, heat transfer, sublimation, or embroidery
- Artwork dimensions in the chosen unit of measure
- Placement reference point, such as center front or high-point shoulder
- Distance from the reference point to the artwork edge or center
- Required colors and color references
- Print order, special effects, or finish requirements
- Artwork scale or placement adjustment rules across sizes, if needed
- Approval status for strike-off, print test, or embroidery sew-out
Print placement should be measured from fixed garment points. For example, “centered 8 cm below neck seam” provides a usable production instruction, while “upper chest” does not. The correct placement reference depends on the design and garment size, but it must be established before bulk production.
Screen printing can suit solid graphics and repeated designs, but buyers should check color registration, ink hand feel, cracking risk, and dye migration on the approved fabric. DTG can reproduce complex artwork but depends on fabric surface and pretreatment. Heat transfer can suit variable names or detailed graphics, while embroidery may require backing and careful digitization to prevent puckering on lightweight jersey.
LSLONG can review artwork placement and decoration specifications during T-shirt development so the intended technique is compatible with the fabric, garment color, and design scale. For an overview of the production sequence, see Custom T-Shirt Manufacturing Process before finalizing artwork approvals.
Why Are Labels, Packaging, and Revision Control Important?
Labels, packaging, and revision control are important because they protect brand consistency and reduce fulfillment errors after the garment itself is complete. A T-shirt can be correctly cut and sewn but still fail buyer requirements if labels are inaccurate, hangtags are missing, polybags are incorrect, cartons contain mixed sizes, or production uses an outdated instruction.
The label and packaging section should specify:
- Main label artwork, size, material, and neck placement
- Size-label format and location
- Care-label wording, material, and insertion point
- Country-of-origin or other market-specific label requirements where applicable
- Hangtag design, attachment method, and barcode placement
- Folding method and polybag type
- Size sticker location and carton assortment
- Carton dimensions, carton marks, and shipping labels where required
For retail and e-commerce programs, the barcode on the hangtag, polybag, and carton may need to match the buyer’s inventory system. The tech pack should clearly distinguish which code belongs to a colorway, size, style, or carton assortment.
Revision control is equally important. Every material change, measurement revision, artwork adjustment, fit comment, or packing update should receive a revision number and date. The buyer should provide the factory with one current production version and archive earlier versions to avoid conflicting instructions.
When Should a Buyer Approve the Tech Pack and Sample?
A buyer should approve the tech pack before development begins and update it after each sample review until all production specifications are final. The final approved version should match the approved pre-production sample, because approving a sample without updating the written document can leave critical changes unrecorded before bulk production.
A typical approval sequence is:
- Create the initial tech pack using the intended product concept, measurements, material direction, artwork, and label requirements.
- Submit the pack for feasibility review and identify missing details before sample development.
- Review the first sample for fit, fabric, construction, color, decoration, labels, and packaging.
- Record all changes in a sample-comments sheet with a revision reference.
- Update the measurement chart, bill of materials, construction notes, and artwork pages.
- Approve a pre-production sample that reflects the intended bulk materials and instructions.
- Release one final revision for production and retain it for inspection and repeat orders.
The buyer should not use email comments alone as the final production specification. Important instructions can be overlooked when they are spread across messages, attachments, and image files. A consolidated tech pack provides a single reference for the buyer, sourcing team, and apparel factory.
How Can Buyers Use the Excel T-Shirt Tech Pack Template?
Buyers can use the downloadable Excel T-shirt tech pack template as a structured starting point for product development, sampling, and supplier communication. The template organizes the essential pages for design specifications, measurements, materials, construction, artwork, packaging, sample comments, and revision history, allowing the buyer to build a clearer production file.
The template includes worksheets for:
- Cover and product identification
- Design specifications
- T-shirt measurements and grading
- Bill of materials
- Construction instructions
- Artwork and decoration details
- Labels and packaging
- Sample comments
- Revision log
Begin by completing the cover page, design specification, and measurement sheet. Then add the bill of materials and construction requirements before sending the first sample request. Attach flat sketches, reference photos, artwork files, color references, and packaging visuals as supporting documents where necessary.
The template is designed to be customized rather than treated as a fixed specification. Add rows for details such as pockets, contrast panels, garment washes, specialty printing, embroidery, retailer barcodes, or additional sizes. Remove fields that do not apply so the final document remains focused and easy to review.
What Should Buyers Send LSLONG With a Tech Pack?
Buyers should send LSLONG a completed tech pack together with supporting files that clarify the intended product, material direction, artwork, quantity, size range, and delivery market. The strongest inquiry gives the manufacturer enough information to assess sampling requirements, production feasibility, sourcing considerations, quality-control points, and packaging needs without relying on assumptions.
The most important buying criteria are a complete measurement specification, clear fabric and trim requirements, construction notes, decoration instructions, accurate label and packaging details, and controlled revisions. The main risks to avoid are missing points of measure, unclear fit language, incomplete artwork placement, unspecified substitutions, unrecorded sample changes, and conflicting versions of the same file.
Prepare the following for an RFQ or sample request:
- Style name, product type, and intended end use
- Technical flats, reference images, or a physical garment reference where available
- Base-size measurements, graded size range, and tolerance requirements
- Fabric composition, knit construction, color, weight target, and hand-feel direction
- Artwork files, decoration method, colors, dimensions, and placement references
- Label, hangtag, polybag, barcode, folding, and carton instructions
- Estimated quantity by color and size
- Target delivery market, shipping requirements, and requested timing
Send LSLONG your completed tech pack and supporting product files to begin a structured discussion about sampling, revisions, quality control, bulk production, and international delivery.
Can a buyer use a reference T-shirt instead of a tech pack?
A reference garment is helpful for showing overall fit, fabric feel, and visual direction, but it should not replace a tech pack. The factory still needs written measurements, materials, artwork placement, label details, and construction instructions to reproduce the product consistently.
Should measurements be written in centimeters or inches?
Either unit can work, but the entire tech pack should use one unit consistently. State the measurement method and tolerance for every point of measure. If converting between units, confirm the final numbers carefully to prevent rounding differences during sampling and inspection.
What files are suitable for T-shirt artwork?
Vector artwork is generally preferred for logos and simple graphics because it can be scaled cleanly. For detailed raster artwork, provide the highest-resolution original available and clearly identify intended print size, colors, decoration method, and placement on the garment.
Can the template be used for repeat orders?
Yes. Keep the approved tech pack, final sample comments, artwork files, bill of materials, and packaging instructions together. Before a repeat order, confirm current material availability, color requirements, branding updates, packing instructions, and any market-specific changes.
