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Tech Packs4 min read

T-Shirt Tech Pack Guide: Specifications That Prevent Factory Guesswork

Build a clearer T-shirt tech pack with usable fabric, construction, measurement, artwork and approval information.

By Sam Lillicrap

Part of Tech Packs & Fit Operations
Field guide · t shirt tech packLifecycle PLM
A T-shirt looks simple, which is exactly why teams leave important decisions unstated.

Factories make T-shirts every day, but they cannot infer the exact fit, hand feel or finish a brand has in mind. A useful pack makes the product-specific choices clear without explaining standard practice at unnecessary length.

Describe the fabric as a commercial material

Name composition, construction, target weight, finish, color reference and any shrinkage or recovery assumptions. Link the approved material record rather than pasting a different description into every style.

Show the construction that changes the product

Call out neck rib, shoulder reinforcement, sleeve and hem finish, side seam or tubular body, and any non-standard topstitch. Use detail views where words would leave room for interpretation.

Control the measurements that drive fit

Define points of measure with diagrams and methods. Chest, length, shoulder, sleeve, neck opening and rib depth often shape the result, but the exact set depends on the block and silhouette.

Place artwork from stable landmarks

State dimensions, technique, color, file reference and placement from named points. A visual mockup helps, but measurable placement controls production.

Record wash and sample decisions

Measurements and appearance may change after wash. State conditioning rules, review the sample against the correct revision and carry approved changes back into the product record.

The pack should let the supplier answer practical questions without searching through chat. If a decision changes, issue a controlled revision and make the old instruction clearly obsolete.

Continue the workflow

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