Tech Pack Template for T-Shirt Manufacturers

Tech pack template for t-shirt manufacturers: list 8–12 points of measure with ±1–2 cm tolerances, finished fabric weight (for example 180–300 GSM), construction and stitch details, artwork placement in cm, a bill of materials and label specs, so the factory can quote in 2–7 days and sample in 1–3 rounds without guessing. This article is an original outline you can adapt. It is not a copy of any proprietary template; build your own files from the sections below.

A complete tech pack reduces sample rounds, prevents trim surprises and makes bulk quality measurable against an approved pre-production sample. Pair this outline with our tech pack checklist for heavyweight t-shirt OEM for a complementary self-check.

Why do t-shirt manufacturers need a structured tech pack?

Factories receive dozens of briefs that say “oversized tee, heavy cotton, big print.” That sentence is not manufacturable. A structured pack answers:

• What to cut (pattern and measurements)
• How to sew it (construction)
• What to put on it (artwork and placements)
• What to buy (fabric, trims, labels, packaging)
• How to know it is correct (tolerances and approval references)

Without those answers, factories invent assumptions. Assumptions create disputes.

What does a practical tech pack outline include?

Use these sections as your template skeleton. Keep each section on its own page or clearly labeled block in a PDF or spreadsheet workbook.

Section A — What belongs on the cover or style sheet?

Include at the top of every pack:

1. Style name and style number
2. Season or drop code
3. Brand name and contact person
4. Date and revision number
5. Product category (for example heavyweight jersey tee)
6. Target markets (for care and labeling context)
7. Reference photos or flat sketches of the front and back
8. Short description (silhouette, intended fit, wash if any)

Factories file work by style number. Unstable naming causes the wrong files to travel with the wrong order.

Section B — How should you present measurements?

Sample size chart

List point-of-measure names and the measurement for the sample size (often M or L). Common tee points include:

• Body length (from high point shoulder or center back — specify which)
• Chest width (1" below armhole or as agreed)
• Shoulder width
• Sleeve length
• Sleeve opening
• Hem width
• Neck width and neck depth
• Neckband width

Name each point clearly. Ambiguous “length” causes graded chaos later.

Graded size run

Provide the full size range you will sell, not only the sample size. Include:

• Size list (for example S–XXL)
• Grade rules or absolute measurements per size
• Which size the sample represents
• Measurement tolerances you will accept in bulk (agree with the factory; do not invent lab-grade precision if you will not enforce it)

Fit notes

Add prose notes the chart cannot show: intended oversized look, cropped length, dropped shoulder, boxy chest. Photos of a fit model in the sample help.

Section C — How do you specify construction?

Construction pages turn a sketch into sewing instructions. Cover:

Call out anything non-standard. Standard lockstitch on a basic tee may not need a novel; a heavyweight oversized tee with a wide rib and twin-needle hem does.

If you use a factory block, say so. Starting from an existing block often shortens development; note which block and what changes you want.

Section D — How should artwork and placement be documented?

Decoration errors are among the most expensive sample mistakes. For each graphic provide:

1. File name and revision
2. Preferred file type (vector when possible for screen print; high-resolution raster when required)
3. Print method (screen, DTG, embroidery, heat transfer, etc.)
4. Colors / PMS or thread colors if relevant
5. Exact placement measured from stable points (for example “centered, X cm below high point shoulder”)
6. Print size (width × height)
7. Maximum print area constraints if known
8. Special notes (distress, puff, discharge, underbase)

Show a placement diagram on front and back flats. If multiple locations exist, number them (Print 1, Print 2).

Explore decoration options such as screen printing, DTG printing and custom embroidery when choosing a method that matches fabric weight and design.

Ready to compare a real quote? Our team prices heavyweight T-shirts line by line, with fabric, sewing, decoration and packing shown separately. Request a quote or browse the heavyweight T-shirt page.

Section E — What goes in the bill of materials (BOM)?

The BOM lists every physical input. A tee BOM often includes:

Add consumption estimates when you have them, or ask the factory to propose consumption after the pattern exists. Flag any components the brand will supply versus factory-sourced.

Fabric choice ties to product intent — see cotton jersey fabric and heavyweight t-shirt manufacturer catalog pages when specifying body fabric.

Section F — How do you brief labels and branding components?

Labels are compliance and brand identity at once. Specify:

• Main label text, logo artwork and placement (center neck, side seam, etc.)
• Care label fiber content, care symbols and country-of-origin approach for your markets
• Any legal statements your counsel requires for the destination countries
• Hangtag copy, logo size and attachment method
• Whether barcodes or SKU stickers apply

Do not leave care content to chance. Markets differ; your pack should state the destination assumptions so the factory does not invent a generic label that fails retail checks later.

Section G — What packaging details matter on a tee program?

Even basic tees need packing rules:

• Fold method or on-hanger expectation
• Tissue or no tissue
• Polybag thickness and markings
• Size sticker position
• Units per polybag and per carton
• Carton bursting strength or standard carton type if required
• Assortment packing (solid size vs ratio packs)

Clear packing instructions prevent “we packed it our usual way” surprises at the warehouse.

Section H — Why keep a revision history?

Every change to measurements, artwork or BOM should update:

• Revision letter or number
• Date
• Author
• What changed
• Whether previous samples are obsolete

Factories need to know which PDF is live. Sticky “final_final_v7” filenames without a revision block cause bulk to follow the wrong file.

How do you use this template from sample to bulk?

1. Fill Sections A–F before requesting a proto
2. Update measurements after fit comments
3. Lock artwork before decoration sampling when possible
4. Approve a PP sample against the frozen pack
5. Attach the approved PP photos and the final pack to the bulk PO
6. QC bulk against the PP and the written tolerances

The tech pack does not replace the physical PP sample. Together they form the specification.

What are common tech pack gaps on tee programs?

• Missing graded size chart
• Artwork without placement measurements
• GSM stated without composition or knit type
• Labels mentioned but not specified
• No revision date
• Conflicting notes between sketch and measurement page
• Decoration method changed verbally but not in the file

Run a self-audit against the section list before you hit send.

How detailed is “detailed enough”?

Enough that a pattern maker and a sewing line who have never met your brand can produce a sample matching your intent. If a stranger on your team cannot follow the pack, the factory probably cannot either.

For heavyweight and oversized programs, extra clarity on chest, length and shoulder drop pays off. Those silhouettes amplify small measurement misunderstandings.

Tech pack template for t-shirt manufacturers: spec fields with numbers

These are typical industry estimate ranges for planning, not quotes; confirm actual figures with your supplier for your fabric, quantity and destination.

Key takeaways

• Build an original pack with cover, measurements, construction, artwork, BOM, labels, packaging and revision history.
• Grade all sizes; do not ship only a sample-size chart to bulk.
• Freeze artwork and BOM before PP when you can.
• Attach the final pack to the PO and QC against PP plus written tolerances.

Get a manufacturable tee brief moving

Weavnora reviews tech packs for heavyweight and private-label tee programs and flags gaps before sampling. Send your draft outline or files through our contact page, or start from product capabilities in the catalog.

Talk to our team about heavyweight T-shirts. Get a quote here, or start from the heavyweight T-shirt page to see fabrics, finishes and decoration options.