Tech Packs For
Fashion Brands
FACTORY-READY TECH PACKS TO BRING YOUR CLOTHING BRAND IDEAS TO LIFE.
If you want to turn your ideas into real garments, you need more than a photo or a sketch.
I'm Michelle Ramsay, a freelance fashion designer with over 20 years of experience, having designed for brands including ASOS, Topshop, M&S and Gymshark.
My tech packs translate your ideas into detailed, manufacturer-ready documents covering construction, fabrics, measurements and trims.
Whether you've got a rough idea or polished CADs, I'll create a tech pack for your clothing brand that gets you factory-ready.
Ready to get started? Here are your next steps.
If you’re planning to manufacture your first product, or your next collection, let’s get the technical side sorted so you can move forward quickly with confidence. Whether you know exactly what you need with your tech pack design or you're still figuring out your collection ideas, here's how to get started...
Why Do You Need
a Tech Pack?
A tech pack, sometimes called an apparel tech pack, factory pack or technical pack, is more than a flat sketch. It's your factory instruction manual showing exactly how your garment should be made, from fabrics and trims to measurements and construction details.
Without one, you risk:
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Miscommunication with your manufacturer
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Wasted time, money, and poor samples
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Products that don’t match your vision
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Not being taken seriously as a clothing brand startup
If you're not sure exactly what a tech pack contains or why you need one before approaching a manufacturer, this guide explains it in full.
What’s Included in
My Tech Pack Service?
My tech packs are built with manufacturers in mind so they're clear, professional, and tailored to your product.
Here’s what’s typically included:
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Digital CAD (flat sketch)
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Fabric, trim and label specifications
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Colourways with Pantones (if required)
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Construction notes and finishing details
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Size spec sheet with measurements
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Garment annotations and callouts
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Additional pages for prints, linings or hardware
Already have initial CADs or digital design files? I’ll work with what you have. If not, I'll create everything from scratch based on your raw ideas.
Need more than tech packs? If you also need branding, bespoke print and fabric design or initial concept CADS, take a look at my fashion design services.
Who Needs A Tech Pack?
Looking for a professional tech pack designer for your clothing brand?
Whether you're a first-time founder, an emerging brand, or an established brand preparing for production, you need a tech pack for anything you want to manufacture.
You don’t need formal design or sketches, just bring your raw ideas or brain dump
I work with:
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Founders who want to go from rough sketch or raw idea to a factory-ready tech pack
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Brands that have initial designs but need professional tech packs
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Clothing brand startups looking to approach factories with confidence
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Established fashion brands looking for additional design help from an experienced plug-and-play designer
A lot of founders also wonder how sketches fit into the process and what the difference is between a rough drawing and a proper tech pack. This post covers that in detail.
How Tech Pack
Design Works.
If you've been wondering how to get your clothing design made, it starts here, with a professional tech pack. Here's how we'll move you from your raw idea to factory-ready tech pack:
Initial consultation – we start with a free, no-pressure call to understand what you need and see if we're a good fit for eachother
Design input – Send me your Pinterest images, rough sketches, moodboards, images, or written ideas, and we'll go through these on a free 20-minute design call to solidify your vision. If you're still working on your ideas and you'd like professional help finalising your collection, you can book an in-depth design meeting before committing. This is a separate fee.
Initial CADs – Once we start design, I’ll create your flat sketches with front and back views, and suggest Pantones and fabrics
Review & edit – You review your initial CADs and can request design amendments
Technical info - Once approved, I'll get to work on the behind-the-scenes technical information for your styles
Sizing - We will discuss how you want your garments to fit and I'll create something bespoke in your chosen sample size for each style
Final delivery – You receive each professional, factory-ready tech pack in PDF format
Need More Fashion
Design Support?
If you're still developing your ideas or want a visual collection to pitch with, I also offer:
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Design Development – Turn moodboards or rough sketches into digital designs
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Surface Pattern Design – Custom prints, graphics, and placement artwork
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Fashion Branding Design – Logos, labels, and branding visuals
These can be booked together or separately.
“I highly recommend Michelle for her exceptional work in creating our tech packs for our new menswear brand, her attention to detail is outstanding , Michelle has been a valuable asset in bringing our vision to life."
Sarah Jane, Co-founder Sorsa
“I'm grateful for the exceptional collaboration with Michelle in bringing my debut dress collection to life. Michelle's expertise extended beyond brilliant design (her tech pack was appreciated by the manufacturer), encompassing invaluable insights into the business approach."
Loredana, founder of Lore Buta
“From start to finish Michelle was extremely professional. Her workmanship and attention to detail is exactly what you would want from a designer, I couldn’t have been happier to work with Michelle for 2 collections so far and I will continue to use her services for future collections."
Lewis, founder of Bristol Barbell
Tech Pack Frequently Asked Questions...
What is a tech pack in fashion? A tech pack (short for technical package) is a detailed document that tells a clothing manufacturer exactly how to make your garment. Think of it as your factory instruction manual. It covers everything from construction methods and fabrics to measurements, trims, stitching details and size specifications. Without a tech pack, a manufacturer cannot accurately sample or produce your designs, because they need precise, written instructions rather than photos, sketches or verbal descriptions. Whether you're launching your first product or producing your tenth collection, a tech pack is the bridge between your design idea and the finished garment.
Do I need a tech pack to work with a clothing manufacturer? Yes. Whether you're a first-time founder or an established brand preparing for production, you need a tech pack for every style you want to manufacture. A manufacturer cannot accurately quote, sample or produce your garment from a sketch or a photo alone. A professional tech pack gives your factory everything they need, including construction details, measurements, fabric and trim specifications, so there are no costly mistakes in sampling or production. If you approach a factory without one, you risk miscommunication, poor samples, wasted money and delays. A tech pack protects your budget, your timeline and your product.
What does a tech pack include? A professional fashion tech pack typically includes: A detailed colour CAD (a flat technical drawing showing front and back views of the garment with Pantone colour references), construction details showing exactly how the garment is assembled, fabric specifications including weight, composition and finish, trim details covering buttons, zips, labels, elastics and any other components, a size specification chart in your chosen sample size, and any additional instructions your factory needs to produce the garment accurately. If colourways are required, those are included within the same tech pack rather than as a separate document.
How do I get started with a tech pack? The first step is a free, no-pressure discovery call. We'll talk through what you need, where you are with your ideas, and whether it's the right time to start your tech packs. From there, a design consultation is booked where you share your inspiration, whether that's Pinterest images, rough sketches, a garment you love, or written ideas, and we work through these together on Zoom to solidify your vision before any design or tech pack work begins. If you're ready to go and you already know what you need, you can also order a tech pack directly from this page.
Do I need a tech pack for every design? Yes – each style should have its own tech pack and that is what your manufacturer will want to see, even if you plan on seling two items as a set. So for example if you are making a tracksuit that counts as two designs, top and bottom, therefore you'll need two separate tech packs. If you are doing the same style but in different colours your various colours will be included in the tech pack, they do not require a separate tech pack.
What if I can’t draw or don’t have professional sketches? That’s exactly where I come in. You don’t need perfect drawings – just a raw idea. Whether it’s a Pinterest board, a garment you love, or a rough sketch, I’ll turn it into polished, manufacturer-ready tech packs.
Can you create the design and the tech pack? Yes. If you’re still refining your ideas, I offer a Design Development service where I help you translate your concept into a collection of digital CADs. Once approved, I turn those into full tech packs ready for production.
How long does it take to create a tech pack? Timelines vary depending on how much design work you need, and how busy I am, but most tech packs take 1–2 weeks once I have all the information. If you’re starting from scratch, I’ll guide you through each step to keep things moving.
Will my manufacturer understand your tech packs? Absolutely. My tech packs are designed specifically for fashion manufacturers – clear, professional, and packed with all the construction, measurement, and spec details they need to sample and produce your garments properly.
I already have some CADs or measurements – can you use them? Yes – I’ll work with whatever you have. If you’ve already started gathering details, I’ll review them and fill in any gaps to make sure your tech pack is complete and accurate.
What happens if I change the design during production? This is 100% normal and to be expected that there will be changes made during the development process, for example amending the fit. You can always come back to me to have amendments made during this stage at an additional fee.
Do you work with fashion startups and established brands? Yes, I work with both, and my approach adapts depending on where you are in your journey. If you're a first-time founder launching your very first clothing brand, I'll guide you through every step. You don't need to know anything about tech packs, design files or manufacturing - that's my job. I'll draw on my 20+ years of industry experience to fill in the gaps, ask the right questions, and create a tech pack that gives your manufacturer everything they need. You just need a raw idea and the drive to make it happen. If you're an established brand looking for additional design support, I work as a plug-and-play freelance designer who can pick up your existing design handwriting, understand your brand aesthetic, and deliver tech packs to the professional standard your production team expects. Whether you need one style or an entire collection, I can slot into your process and get things done.
What information do you need from me to get started? A lot less than you might think. Most clients worry they don't have the right things ready, but you genuinely don't need professional files or technical knowledge to begin. To get started, it helps to have some form of inspiration or reference - this could be Pinterest images, a garment you own and love, rough sketches, a written description of your idea, or a combination of all of these. If you have existing CADs, design files or measurements, bring those too and I'll work with what you have. Everything is worked through together on a Zoom consultation before any design or tech pack work begins, so nothing gets missed and you always know exactly what's needed at each stage.
How does the revision process work for tech packs? I have a tried and tested process that breaks the work down into three clear stages, so nothing gets missed and you're never overwhelmed with everything at once. Stage 1 - CAD Design. I take your ideas and create professional fashion flat drawings, front and back views, in colour with Pantone references. You then review these and have the opportunity to approve or request small adjustments. Each style includes up to three rounds of adjustments at this stage, which might look like a colour change, a seam placement tweak, logo resizing or a pocket redesign. Stage 2 -Tech Info. Once you're happy with the CADs, I work my magic on the technical side ie. all the construction details, fabric and trim specifications, and everything your manufacturer needs to bring the garment to life. Stage 3 - Sizing. We discuss how you want your garments to fit, and I create bespoke size specification charts tailored to your requirements and your target market. It's worth knowing that a tech pack is never truly finished and set in stone - throughout your sampling and production process there will naturally be changes and refinements as you see the garment come to life. If you need help amending your tech packs at any point down the line, I'm always here to help you navigate that, and any post-completion amendments are charged separately at the time.
Is it worth getting a professional tech pack or can I make my own? In theory, you can make your own but in practice, I've seen first-hand over 20 years what happens when a manufacturer receives an incomplete or inaccurate tech pack, and it's almost always costly. Factories work to exactly what's on the document. If a measurement is missing, they'll guess. If a construction detail is unclear, they'll interpret it their own way. If a trim isn't specified, you'll get whatever they have in stock. The result is sampling errors, delays, and re-sampling costs that quickly exceed what a professional tech pack would have cost in the first place. A professional tech pack is built the way manufacturers expect to receive it - clear, complete, and unambiguous. It protects your budget, your timeline, and your product.
What if my manufacturer comes back with a query about my tech pack? My tech packs are built specifically to the standard factories expect, with over 20 years of experience working with manufacturers in the UK and worldwide. They're designed to be clear, complete and professional from the outset. That said, every factory is different and every product is different, and it's completely normal for manufacturers to come back with clarification questions during the sampling and production process. This is just part of how the industry works and nothing to worry about. You can absolutely navigate these queries yourself, but if you'd like support, I'm always on hand to help. I offer sessions where we can sit down together, go through all of the factory's questions, make a plan and work out the answers, so you always feel confident and in control of your production process.
Do you create tech packs for all types of clothing - womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and activewear? Yes. I design across all major clothing categories including womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, activewear and accessories. Whether you're launching a womenswear collection, a menswear label, a childrenswear range or a sportswear line, the tech pack process is the same, and my experience across all of these categories means I understand the specific construction, sizing and manufacturing requirements each one involves. If you're not sure whether your product falls into a category I cover, just get in touch, chances are I've worked on something very similar before.
I have an unusual or innovative product that's not a typical fashion item. Can you still help? Absolutely, and honestly, these are some of my favourite projects to work on. Not every product fits neatly into a traditional fashion category. Some of my clients come to me with items that solve a problem, have a technical element, work in an unusual way, or combine function with fashion in a way that's genuinely new. It might be an accessory, a practical piece of clothing, a hybrid product, or something that has never quite been made before. These kinds of projects require more thinking about how the product will actually work, how it's constructed, what materials and hardware are needed, and how to communicate all of that clearly to a manufacturer. That's exactly where my technical knowledge and design experience come in. If your product is complex, unusual or innovative, don't let that put you off getting in touch. The more interesting the challenge, the more I enjoy it.
Do you work with sportswear, gym wear, activewear and yoga brands? Yes, sportswear and activewear are a significant part of what I do, and it's a category I have extensive experience in, having worked with major brands including Gymshark and Everlast. Activewear, gym wear, yoga wear and leisurewear require a very different approach to tech packs compared to standard womenswear or casualwear. Performance fabrics behave differently - stretch, recovery, moisture wicking, compression and UPF ratings all need to be specified correctly. Construction methods are more technical, with specific seam types, bonding techniques and machinery involved. Fit is critical and highly performance-specific. And the factories that produce activewear are specialist manufacturers who expect a higher level of technical detail in the documentation they receive. Whether you're launching a gym wear brand, a yoga collection, an ath-leisure line or a high-performance sportswear range, I understand exactly what your tech packs need to include and how to communicate your product to the right type of manufacturer.
Do you work with UK clothing brands and UK manufacturers? Yes, the majority of my clients are UK-based fashion founders and brands, and I have extensive experience working alongside UK clothing manufacturers. I understand the standards, lead times, communication styles and expectations of UK factories, which means your tech packs are built to land well with any UK-based manufacturer you approach. If you're based in the UK and looking to manufacture in the UK, I can also offer guidance on finding the right type of factory for your product as part of my wider mentoring and consultancy services.
Do you work with global brands and manufacturers outside the UK? Yes. While many of my clients are UK-based, I work with fashion founders and brands worldwide, and I have extensive experience working with international manufacturers across Europe, Asia, and beyond. Tech packs are a universal language in the fashion industry. Whether your factory is in Portugal, Turkey, India, China or anywhere else, a well-built tech pack communicates the same information clearly regardless of location. Everything is done remotely via Zoom and email, so wherever you are in the world and wherever your manufacturer is based, that's never a barrier to working together.