MOQ 100PCS
Simple T-Shirt Tech Pack for Manufacturing
A simple t shirt tech pack for manufacturing should do one job: remove decisions from the supplier's guesswork. It does not need polished fashion illustrations. It needs a clear product identity, measurable specifications, artwork instructions, label details, and a record of what you approved.
A reference photo and the words "heavy cotton, oversized fit" may start a quotation. They cannot control a sample. The missing decisions show up later as a wider collar, a lower print, a different body length, or a care label nobody discussed. Once fabric has been cut, those gaps become harder to correct.
A tech pack is a decision record, not a mood board
A mood board explains taste. A tech pack explains production. The first may show a washed black tee, a cropped streetwear fit, and a cracked screen print. The second states which of those details belong to the product and how the supplier will check them.
Keep inspiration images, but label them. Write "fit reference only" if you do not want the reference fabric copied. Write "collar shape only" if the body proportions are irrelevant. A supplier cannot know which part of a photo matters unless you say so.
The same principle applies to comments sent through email or WhatsApp. If a comment changes the product, move it into the current tech-pack version. Production should not depend on someone remembering which message overruled which PDF.
Buyer test: give the document to someone who has not joined your previous calls. Can that person identify the current fabric, sample size, print dimensions, label artwork, and latest approved changes? If not, the pack still depends on memory.
How to build a simple t shirt tech pack for manufacturing
Five sections are enough for many first T-shirt developments. Some brands split them into more pages. That is a layout choice, not a sign of better control.
| Section | What belongs there | The question it must answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Style control | Style code, product name, season, version number, revision date, colourways, intended market, and expected quantity | Which product and which document version are we making? |
| 2. Garment and construction | Front and back flats, seam notes, neckline, rib, sleeve finish, hem, side seam or tubular body, and stitching requests | What is sewn to what, and what should the finished garment look like? |
| 3. Materials and trims | Main fabric, collar rib, sewing thread, labels, colour standards, packaging materials, and approval status | Which material is used at each location? |
| 4. Measurements | Point-of-measure diagram, base-size measurements, tolerances, grade rules, and fit comments | How will fit and size be measured rather than judged by eye? |
| 5. Branding and packing | Artwork files, print or embroidery dimensions, placement, neck and care labels, hangtags, folding, barcodes, and carton marks | How is the blank garment turned into the product the customer receives? |
Add a revision log after these sections. For each change, record the date, affected page, old instruction, new instruction, and approval status. Version names such as "final-final-2.pdf" are not version control. Use a sequence that the buyer and supplier can repeat back, such as V1, V2, and PP-approved V3.
Write the fabric specification as separate decisions
"Cotton T-shirt" is not a fabric specification. Even "100% cotton, 240 GSM" leaves open the knit construction, finish, colour standard, shrinkage expectation, and whether the collar rib should match the body fabric.
A workable fabric line could read:
Main body: 100% cotton single jersey. Target 240 GSM. Black matched to the supplied colour reference. Soft hand without a brushed surface. Supplier to submit the available fabric swatch for approval before the pre-production sample.
This wording separates facts from approvals. It tells the supplier what has been decided and where a material proposal is still required.
GSM is useful because it turns "light" or "heavy" into a measurable requirement. ASTM D3776/D3776M covers methods for measuring fabric mass per unit area. The standard also distinguishes between full pieces, full-width samples, small swatches, and narrow fabrics, so the sample type matters when a result is reported.[1]
Do not use GSM as a promise of quality by itself. A heavier fabric can still have poor recovery, an unsuitable finish, or a knit structure that does not suit the intended fit. Record what the garment needs to do, then use weight as one control point.
Keep colours tied to a physical or coded reference
"Vintage black" means different things to different people. Attach the colour reference, name the matching system if you use one, and state whether the fabric should be dyed to match or selected from available stock. If wash effects are part of the design, approve the finished garment appearance rather than treating the fabric swatch as the final colour.
For multiple colourways, give each one its own code. This matters because Goodley's custom-development MOQ is calculated as 100 pieces per style per color, not as one combined number across unrelated colours.
The measurement page controls fit
A size chart copied from a retail website is a weak starting point. Retail charts often show body dimensions or broad size guidance. Production needs finished-garment measurements taken at named points.
Choose a base size for the first sample. Then give every point of measure a code and a matching diagram. "Chest" may mean a straight measurement below the armhole, a measurement at the armhole, or a full circumference. The diagram removes that ambiguity.
| POM code | Measurement | Define the method | Common ambiguity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Half chest | Measure straight across at a stated distance below the armhole | Measured too high or treated as circumference |
| B | Body length | State the top point and whether neck rib is included | High-point shoulder and centre-back methods give different results |
| C | Shoulder width | Measure seam to seam across the back | Dropped shoulders change where the seam sits |
| D | Sleeve length | State whether measurement begins at shoulder seam or centre back | Two accepted methods produce different numbers |
| E | Neck width and drop | Show front and back neck points on the diagram | A small change alters the collar appearance |
Set a tolerance for each measurement rather than one blanket tolerance for the entire garment. The right tolerance depends on the point of measure, fabric behaviour, construction, and your acceptance needs. If you do not have an established tolerance standard, ask the supplier to propose one and approve it before sampling.
Grading is a separate decision. It describes how the garment changes from one size to the next. An oversized medium does not automatically lead to a usable XS or 5XL. Review the grade rules across the full size range, especially shoulder width, body length, sleeve opening, and neck dimensions.
Artwork and labels need production instructions
Artwork needs coordinates, not arrows
A vector logo file does not tell production where the logo goes. Give the finished artwork width and height, then locate it from stable garment points. For a left-chest print, that might mean a stated distance from the high-point shoulder and a stated distance from the centre front. Add a diagram.
Record these items for every artwork:
- artwork file name and version;
- finished dimensions;
- placement measurements;
- colour references;
- requested decoration method or a note asking for a method proposal;
- size-dependent placement changes, if any; and
- the approved strike-off or sample reference.
Ask about the decoration method before locking the artwork if the design has very fine detail, large solid areas, strong stretch requirements, or placement across a seam. Screen printing, DTG, heat transfer, and embroidery do not produce the same hand feel or reproduce every graphic in the same way. Goodley can support screen printing, DTG, heat transfer, water-based printing, and several embroidery methods, but the artwork and order details should decide the route.
Labels belong in the tech pack before sampling
The label page should show the brand label, size label, care label, country-of-origin wording, attachment method, placement, finished dimensions, and artwork file. It should also identify the destination market.
For most textile and wool products sold in the United States, the US Federal Trade Commission says labels must list fibre content, country of origin, and the identity of the manufacturer or another business responsible for marketing or handling the product. The FTC also states that manufacturers and importers must provide care instructions under the Care Labeling Rule.[2]
For products placed on the EU market, Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 governs textile fibre names and related fibre-composition labelling. The regulation requires the composition information to be legible, visible, and clear, including before an online purchase.[3]
These are market rules, not decorative details. Requirements change with the destination, product category, and selling arrangement. Confirm the applicable wording with the responsible importer or a qualified compliance adviser before bulk production.
How are t shirts manufactured after the pack is issued?
The tech pack moves through a sequence of checks. The exact order can shift with fabric availability and artwork development, but the control points stay recognisable.
- Feasibility review: the supplier checks the quantity, material request, construction, decoration, target date, and missing specifications.
- Quotation and material confirmation: the parties confirm what the quotation includes and which materials need swatch or lab-dip approval.
- Pattern and sample: the base-size pattern is prepared and a sample is made against the current document version.
- Fit and workmanship review: the buyer measures the sample, checks appearance and construction, and returns one consolidated comment sheet.
- Revision: approved changes go into the tech pack. A new sample or a targeted correction follows when needed.
- Pre-production approval: the buyer identifies the approved sample, approved materials, approved artwork, and approved tech-pack version.
- Bulk production: fabric is prepared, components are cut, garments are sewn, decoration is applied, and the order moves through inspection and packing.
- Shipment release: the agreed packing, quantity, shipping terms, and balance requirements are checked before dispatch.
For Goodley custom development, the current reference time for a pre-production sample is 5-7 working days after the necessary specifications and materials are confirmed. Bulk production below 1,000 pieces is typically referenced at 10-15 working days after approval. Artwork complexity, fabric development, revisions, testing, and order composition can change the schedule, so a requested delivery date should be shared at quotation stage.
If you are still mapping the order, review Goodley's custom production process before issuing the pack. You can also check the current custom menswear manufacturing scope to confirm that the product fits our production focus.
Approve the sample with a discrepancy table
"Looks good except the neck and print" is hard to execute. A discrepancy table is faster to read and leaves less room for conflicting interpretations.
| Item | Required | Sample result | Decision | Tech-pack update |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half chest | Approved specification | Record measured result | Accept or revise | Page and version |
| Neck opening | Approved shape and measurements | Photo plus measured result | Accept or revise | Construction or measurement page |
| Front artwork | Specified size, colour, and placement | Photo and measurements | Accept or revise | Artwork page and file name |
Collect all comments into one document. Mark each item as accepted, revised, or pending. If one comment changes another page, update both. A wider neck opening may affect rib length. A larger print may affect placement across sizes. Changes do not live in isolation.
Keep one untouched approval sample. Photos help, but they do not preserve hand feel, actual colour, print surface, or sewing details. The physical sample and the approved document should point to each other.
What changes the quotation, and where briefs fail
What changes the quotation?
A supplier cannot quote the finished garment from quantity alone. The main quotation drivers are the selected fabric, colour development, pattern work, size and colour mix, decoration method, number of artwork positions, labels, packaging, testing requirements, shipping terms, and quantity per style per color.
Send these inputs before asking for a final quotation:
- style reference and current tech-pack version;
- quantity by colour and expected size range;
- fabric specification or a clearly marked request for a fabric proposal;
- base-size measurement chart;
- artwork files, dimensions, placements, and colours;
- label and packaging requirements;
- destination country and preferred shipping term; and
- required delivery date.
Unknown information is allowed. Mark it as open. Hidden uncertainty is what causes trouble.
Five tech-pack failures worth catching early
- The reference image is treated as the specification. Label what the supplier should copy and what is inspiration only.
- Measurements have no method. Pair every point of measure with a diagram.
- Comments stay in chat messages. Move each approved change into the current document.
- Artwork placement is judged from a mockup. Add finished dimensions and fixed coordinates.
- Approval has no version number. Name the exact sample and document released for production.
None of these fixes requires expensive software. They require discipline about where the current decision lives.
FAQ
Can I make a tech pack in Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. A spreadsheet works if drawings, measurement methods, artwork files, and revision control remain easy to follow. Export a locked PDF for each issued version so the production reference does not change accidentally.
Do I need a professional designer before requesting a sample?
Not always. You need enough information to define the garment and a clear list of undecided points. A supplier can propose materials or construction choices, but you should record and approve those proposals before production.
What is the minimum order for a newly developed Goodley T-shirt?
The current custom-development MOQ is 100 pieces per style per color. Existing stock garments with logo or neck-label customisation follow a different route and do not carry one universal minimum.
How many sample rounds should I expect?
There is no honest universal number. A complete specification and clear consolidated comments can reduce avoidable rounds. New fits, new fabric development, or major artwork changes may need further sampling.
What should a simple t shirt tech pack for manufacturing include?
Include style and version control, garment drawings, construction notes, material specifications, a point-of-measure chart, tolerances, grade rules, artwork, labels, packaging, and an approval log. Anything still undecided should be marked as an open item.
How are t shirts manufactured once the sample is approved?
The approved pack and sample guide material preparation, cutting, sewing, decoration, inspection, packing, and shipment release. If a production change is necessary, record and approve it rather than allowing the bulk order to drift away from the approved version.
Send a brief that can be checked
Send Goodley your product reference, quantity by colour, target size range, fabric direction, artwork, destination market, and required delivery date. If you already have a tech pack, include its version number. If you do not, use the five-section structure above to show what is decided and what still needs a proposal.
One dedicated contact can then follow the same specification from the first sample through delivery. That is the point of the document: the product should become clearer at each stage, not change according to the last message someone opened.
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