How Much Is A Tech Pack ?
How Much Is A Fashion Tech Pack ?
56. Fashion Techpack prices in the UK can vary enormously. For small volume production, using a fairly basic fashion design, a tech pack can cost anything from £180 – £800 each. How much a tech pack costs depends on the complexity of the garment and the amount of information required.
Our basic two page tech pack costs £240 for fairly simple clothing styles. A more complicated design would cost £300 for a four page tech pack. The price includes a garment spec, plus a front and back technical sketch, with any relevant information regarding construction – seams, darts, pockets, stitching, etc.
A complicated tech pack for a very technical garment can cost anything form £400 up to £1500. This could be for workwear trousers for instance, where there are multiple pockets and seams with a lot of stitching details and embroidery.
The cost for a comprehensive tech pack can prove to be prohibitively expensive for a small clothing business, but is essential for complicated or technical garments, especially if produced abroad.
The price depends on the complexity of the design and the depth of information required. We need to determine what is actually necessary and what can be simplified in order to keep costs as low as possible.
We try to keep our tech pack prices competitive by working with the best tech pack designers for each category of product. This ensures that the tech packers have the correct level of experience and skill for your product.
Tech pack fees can mount up if you dont plan carefully. To keep costs down may mean grouping similar styles together. You could consider paying for one professional tech pack of a similar design, and use the template to complete the other similar designs yourself.
To do this you would not need the same level of skill as a professional tech pack designer, but you may still need to learn some basic knowledge of garment construction and pattern making.
Size Spec.
If a size spec is required, this would add to the cost, but it can be very useful. It can be cheaper to allow the factory to do the grading, but dont rely on them doing so without a size chart.
Size charts for Childrenswear can cost more as there are so many more sizes, but few graders understand children’s grading, so need to be provided with a chart from an expert.
If there are large production runs at stake, then this is definitely a worthwhile investment. Even for small production runs, we would recommend having a professional tech pack created.
A size spec should not normally be provided as part of the standard tech pack, as the sample needs to be approved before the size chart is made.
Tech Pack Workshop.
It would be worth considering our tech pack workshop as an alternative cost effective solution. In these 1-1 workshops we sit down with you and go through your designs, providing you with the information for you to complete the tech pack, using our tech pack templates.
The only way to substantially cut tech pack costs is to do it yourself if you have the time. But that is only possible with expert guidance from an experienced tech pack designer. If you try to do it on your own, you will likely encounter all sorts of communication problems and misunderstandings with the factory, or pattern cutter.
One of the main problems with DIY tech packs is the use of incorrect terminology or phrases. Like with every other industry, fashion has its own vocabulary. We get used to using certain words, phrases and acronyms. Beginners will often try to use those same words incorrectly, in order to sound professional.
This may sound innocent enough, but can lead to disastrous consequences. It may be cheap to do it yourself, but it’s not always best. If you are interested in learning how to make your own tech packs, then we can provide expert tuition from one of our fashion professionals.
Specialist Tech Pack Designers.
We use a number of very experienced tech pack designers, specialising in their own fields. Each area of clothing requires specialist knowledge in order to produce an accurate tech pack. Swimwear is vastly different to tailoring for example. And menswear is totally different to childrenswear. Few tech pack makers have knowledge spanning all aspects of clothing. That is why we use experts in their own field.
Technical Garments.
A tech pack for a technical sports garment, or workwear with lots of features will cost much more than one for a basic fashion garment. Such a garment would likely be produced in considerable bulk.
Technical garments have to be produced to a high tolerance and a high standard, so the price would be well worth it, and very cost effective in the long run.
The Best Approach.
The London Pattern Cutter is here to help you decide on the best approach through a cost benefit analysis. Whatever the price of the tech pack, make sure that it is fit for purpose.
If you are manufacturing small runs in the UK, then you may be able to get away without a tech pack by choosing a good factory with excellent pattern cutters. A good pattern cutter knows exactly what information they need to interpret your designs accurately first time round.
A poor factory will probably insist on a tech pack anyway, but beware of the poor factory that mistakenly thinks they can manage without. You may find that you are having to pay for multiple samples.
Offshore Manufacturing.
If you are manufacturing abroad, then a tech pack is pretty much essential. Offshore manufacture can be far cheaper than domestic manufacture, but far more risky. You need a tech pack to minimise that risk.
You need to be making significant numbers for it to be worthwhile, but NEVER do this without expert advice and a professional tech pack. To do it any other way virtually guarantees disaster in our experience.
Detailed Tech Pack.
How much a tech pack costs depends on the depth of detailed required, and the complexity of the design. This page should tell you more about tech pack design if you need more information.
Technical garments tend to require more detailed information than general fashion garments. Technical garments are more complicated, more expensive, and require more development.
These garments can be around for a long time. So it can be cost effective to spend more on detailed tech packs. It is also more vital that technical garments are made to exact specifications.
Fashion Startup Workshop.
If you are new to the fashion industry, or would like to know how to set up and run a fashion business, we highly recommend our Fashion Startup Workshop, run by our senior business adviser, Emile Carr.
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