Before creating a tech pack, the design process moves through several important conceptual and developmental stages. These steps ensure that your final garment is well thought-out, feasible, and aligned with the brand vision.
We have here a clear, structured flow before tech pack creation:
1. Research & Inspiration
This is the foundation stage where ideas are gathered.
- Trend research (fashion forecasts, runway analysis)
- Market research (target audience, competitors)
- Cultural / craft research ( if you need)
- Theme or concept development
👉 Output: Mood direction, concept clarity
2. Mood Board Creation
A visual representation of your concept.
- Colors
- Textures
- Fabrics
- Silhouettes
- Lifestyle imagery
👉 Helps communicate the feel and story of the collection
3. Color Palette Development
- Selection of primary and secondary colors
- Pantone references (if required)
- Seasonal relevance
- Inspirations ( from nature or man-made world)
👉 Ensures consistency across designs
4. Fabric & Material Selection
- Fabric type (cotton, silk, blends, sustainable textiles)
- Surface techniques (embroidery, print, dyeing)
- Trims and accessories (buttons, zippers, lace)
👉 Swatches are usually collected at this stage
5. Silhouette Development
- Rough garment shapes and structures
- Fit direction (loose, structured, tailored, oversized)
👉 Defines how the garment will sit on the body
6. Sketching (Design Development)
- Rough sketches → refined fashion illustrations
- Front and back views
- Style variations
👉 This is where ideas start becoming tangible
7. CAD / Digital Flats (Optional but preferred)
- Clean technical drawings (flats)
- No stylization, only construction clarity
👉 These will later go into the tech pack
8. Measurement & Size Planning
- Decide size range (S, M, L, etc.)
- Base measurements (body + garment specs)
👉 Important for production scaling
9. Prototype Planning (Pre-sampling Thought)
- Decide which designs will go for sampling
- Consider cost, complexity, and feasibility
👉 Filters designs before investing in development
10. Design Finalization
- Final selection of styles
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Confirmation of:
- Fabric
- Colors
- Details
- Construction elements
👉 This is the last step before tech pack creation
What Comes Next?
After all of this, you move into:
➡️ Tech Pack Creation
(where everything is documented in detail for production)
In One Line Flow
Research → Mood Board → Colors → Fabrics → Silhouettes → Sketches → Flats → Measurements → Prototype Planning → Final Design → Tech Pack
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Once the tech pack is created, the process shifts from design thinking to execution, testing, and production control. This is where your idea becomes a real, wearable product.
The structured flow after tech pack creation:
1. Tech Pack Handover to Manufacturer / Sampling Unit
-
Tech pack is shared with:
- Vendor / factory
- Pattern master
- Sampling unit
- Initial clarifications and feasibility discussions happen
👉 Goal: Ensure everyone understands the design correctly
2. Pattern Making
-
Patterns are developed based on:
- Measurements
- Garment specs from the tech pack
-
Can be:
- Manual (paper patterns)
- Digital (CAD patterns)
👉 This is the blueprint of the garment
3. Sample Development (Proto Sample)
- First physical version of the garment is created
Types of samples:
- Prototype / first sample
- Development sample
👉 Purpose: Check overall look, construction, and feasibility
4. Fit Testing
- Garment is tried on a fit model or mannequin
Evaluation includes:
- Fit (tight, loose, balanced)
- Comfort
- Proportion
- Movement
👉 Feedback is documented
5. Revisions & Sample Iterations
- Corrections are made based on fit and design issues
May go through:
- 2–3 sample rounds (or more)
👉 Goal: Achieve the perfect approved sample
6. Pre-Production Sample (PPS)
- Final approved version before bulk production
Includes:
- Correct fabric
- Correct trims
- Final construction details
👉 This becomes the standard reference for production
7. Costing & Price Finalization
-
Final costing is calculated based on:
- Fabric consumption
- Labor
- Trims
- Logistics
👉 Helps decide MRP and margins
8. Grading
- Patterns are scaled into different sizes (S, M, L, etc.)
👉 Ensures size consistency across the range
9. Marker Making & Fabric Planning
- Efficient layout of patterns on fabric
👉 Minimizes fabric waste (very relevant for sustainable design)
10. Bulk Production
- Garments are produced in larger quantities
Stages include:
- Cutting
- Stitching
- Finishing
👉 This is the main manufacturing phase
11. Quality Control (QC)
-
Inspection at multiple stages:
- Inline QC (during production)
- Final QC (finished garments)
Checks:
- Stitching quality
- Measurements
- Defects
12. Packaging & Labeling
- Tags, labels, branding elements added
- Folding and packaging as per brand guidelines
13. Dispatch & Distribution
-
Sent to:
- Retail stores
- Online warehouses
- Clients
14. Retail / Launch
- Product reaches the market
- Styling, merchandising, and display come into play
Complete Flow (After Tech Pack)
Tech Pack → Pattern → Sample → Fit → Revisions → PPS → Costing → Grading → Marker → Production → QC → Packaging → Dispatch → Retail
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