Understanding Tech Packs: What Fashion Brands Need Before Starting Production in Portugal
If you're a fashion brand looking to produce your collection in Portugal, there's one document that will determine whether your production runs smoothly or turns into an expensive back-and-forth: your tech pack.
At The Apparel Co, every project starts with a tech pack. It's the first thing we ask for — and for good reason. Without it, no factory can give you an accurate price, produce a reliable sample, or guarantee the final garment matches your vision.
Here's everything you need to know.
What is a Tech Pack?
A tech pack (short for technical package) is the complete blueprint of your garment. It's the document that tells a factory exactly what to make, how to make it, and what materials to use — without any guesswork.
A solid tech pack includes:
Flat sketches — front and back views of the garment with clear lines and proportions
Bill of Materials (BOM) — every fabric, thread, trim, button, zipper, and label, with specifications
Construction details — how the garment is assembled, seam types, stitch counts, finishing methods
Measurement chart — size breakdown for every size in your range, with tolerances
Colourways — Pantone references or physical swatches for each colour option
Label and packaging instructions — care labels, hang tags, folding and polybag requirements
Why Your Tech Pack Determines Everything
When we receive your tech pack, it allows us to match your garment to the right factory in our network, give you an accurate price per piece, produce a sample that needs minimal revision, and keep quality consistent from sample to bulk production.
Without a tech pack, we're working from assumptions. Assumptions lead to wrong samples, wasted time, and costs you didn't budget for.
A complete tech pack typically cuts sampling rounds from three or four down to one or two — which in real terms means weeks saved and hundreds or thousands of euros not spent on corrections.
What if I Don't Have a Tech Pack Yet?
This is more common than you'd think, especially for brands launching their first collection or moving production for the first time.
If you have detailed design sketches, fabric references, and measurements, we can help you structure that information into a format factories can work with. Reach out and tell us where you are in the process — we'll let you know what we need to get started.
Common Tech Pack Mistakes That Cause Production Problems
Even experienced brands make these errors:
Incomplete material specs — saying "cotton jersey" isn't enough. Factories need GSM weight, composition percentage, and ideally a fabric reference or supplier code.
Missing tolerances — measurements need acceptable variation ranges. Without them, a factory has no standard to quality check against.
No colourway references — "navy blue" means something different to every factory. Always use Pantone codes or send physical swatches.
Outdated versions — if you update your design, update the tech pack. Mismatched versions are one of the most common causes of production errors.
Ready to Start Production in Portugal?
Send us your tech pack and tell us about your project. We'll come back to you within 24 hours with feedback and a clear price per piece — no hidden costs, no surprises.
