Made by Professional Pattern Makers
Tech Pack + DXF Pattern, From Your Design
Design your garment with AI, then have professional pattern makers cut production-ready DXF pattern files from your design. From $29 per garment, delivered in as little as 48 hours. Add the full factory tech pack with bill of materials, size charts, construction details and color specs, plus grading, marker layout and seam allowances, as add-ons from $5 to $15.
The Blueprint Behind Every Garment
A tech pack is the single most important document in garment manufacturing. It is the universal language between designers and factories — a comprehensive specification sheet that tells a manufacturer exactly how to produce your garment. Without a complete tech pack, you risk miscommunication, costly sampling rounds, production errors, and delays that can push your launch date back by months.
Traditionally, creating a tech pack is painstaking work. A freelance technical designer charges $150 to $500 per tech pack and takes anywhere from three days to two weeks to deliver. If you are building a 20-piece collection, that is $3,000 to $10,000 and several weeks of waiting before you can even approach a manufacturer. For independent brands and emerging designers operating on tight budgets, this cost is often prohibitive.
Smasher Studio changes this equation entirely. You design the garment with AI, from silhouette and fabric to colorways and fit, seeing photoreal images of the piece in minutes. When the design is ready, a professional pattern maker cuts the production-grade DXF cutting pattern from it, from $29 per garment, and can author the full factory tech pack covering every section a manufacturer expects to see as a $10 add-on. AI speed for the creative work, human expertise for the precision work, both in one pipeline.
Want the full walkthrough first? Turn your clothing design into a factory-ready DXF pattern compares all three routes, the freelance pattern maker, learning pattern CAD, and ordering the pattern as a product, and explains what factories check when your files arrive.
What Is Included in Your Tech Pack
Every tech pack delivered by Smasher Studio covers the six core sections that manufacturers expect. Here is what you get:
Garment Overview and Design Intent
A clear summary of the garment including its name, category, target market, season, and design vision. This section sets the context for everything that follows. It tells the manufacturer what you are making, who it is for, and the overall aesthetic you are aiming for — whether that is a relaxed streetwear silhouette or a structured corporate blazer.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
A complete inventory of every component needed to produce the garment. This includes shell fabric, lining, interfacing, zippers, buttons, snaps, rivets, labels (main label, care label, size label), hang tags, threads, elastic, drawcords, and any specialty trims. Each item lists the material composition, color, supplier reference where applicable, and estimated quantity per unit. The BOM is what your manufacturer uses to source materials and calculate the cost per unit.
Complete Size Chart with Measurements
Full size specifications from XS through XXL (or your custom size range) with measurements provided in both centimeters and inches. The chart includes all relevant measurement points for the garment type — chest width, body length, sleeve length, shoulder width, hem width, neck opening, and any other critical dimensions. Each size increments consistently using standard grading rules, and tolerances are specified so the factory knows the acceptable variance.
Construction Details
Detailed instructions for how the garment should be assembled. This covers seam types (flatlock, overlock, French seam, flat-felled), stitch specifications (stitches per inch, thread weight), finishing details (bartacks, topstitching width, hem type), and the order of operations for assembly. Construction details also include any special techniques like bonding, welding, or heat-sealed seams for technical fabrics.
Color Specifications with Pantone References
Precise color definitions for every component of the garment. Rather than saying "navy blue," the tech pack specifies the exact Pantone TPX or TCX reference (such as Pantone 19-4028 TPX Insignia Blue). This ensures the factory matches your intended color exactly, regardless of screen calibration or ambient lighting. Color specs cover the shell, lining, trims, threads, labels, and hardware finishes.
Quality Control Checkpoints
A checklist of inspection points and acceptance criteria that the factory should follow during production. This includes measurements to verify at each size, seam strength requirements, colorfastness standards, shrinkage tolerances after washing, pilling resistance grades, and visual inspection criteria. QC checkpoints help prevent defective goods from shipping and give you leverage if a factory delivers below-spec product.
How It Works
Design Your Garment
Open the Creative Studio and describe your garment in natural language: the garment type, fabric, target fit, key design features, and any construction preferences. The AI generates product images (5 credits each) so you can see the piece from every angle and refine it until it matches your vision. Free accounts include 50 credits per month.
Order Your DXF Pattern
When the design is ready, order directly from the conversation. You confirm a short recap (fabric, base size, size range, artwork) and pay a secure checkout link: $29 for simple garments, $59 for standard, $129 for complex. The factory tech pack, grading, marker layout and seam allowances can be added to the order as paid add-ons until delivery. Nothing is charged before you complete the payment.
Pattern Makers Deliver
A professional pattern maker cuts your production AAMA/ASTM DXF-2 pattern files, along with any add-ons you selected, delivered to your Projects page in as little as 48 hours from claim. Review it, request your free first revision if needed, and send it to your manufacturer.
What Makes a Good Garment Brief
The quality of your final package is directly related to the quality of your design brief. Here is what to include and what to avoid:
Strong Prompt Example
"Design a men's heavyweight hoodie. 400 GSM organic cotton fleece, brushed interior. Oversized fit with drop shoulder and extended body length. Features: kangaroo pocket with internal phone pocket, metal zipper at center front, ribbed cuffs and hem (1x1 rib, 280 GSM). Available in black, charcoal, and forest green. Target retail price $85. Sizes S through 2XL."
This brief specifies fabric weight, composition, fit, features, trims, colorways, price point, and size range. The pattern makers have everything they need to build accurate specifications.
Weak Prompt Example
"Make a hoodie."
This brief lacks critical details. The design will still come together, but fabric weight, fit, construction methods, and colorways will have to be assumed. You will spend more time revising than if you had been specific upfront.
Details Worth Including in Your Brief
Garment type and gender/age group
Fabric composition and weight (GSM)
Fit preference (slim, regular, oversized, relaxed)
Key design features (pockets, zippers, closures)
Hardware and trim specifications
Target size range
Colorway names or Pantone references
Target retail or wholesale price point
Intended season (SS26, FW26)
Any brand-specific requirements (custom labels, packaging)
Traditional Tech Pack Creation vs Smasher Studio
The difference between the traditional freelance pipeline and an AI-assisted platform working with professional pattern makers is not marginal. Here is how they compare across every dimension that matters:
| Factor | Traditional | Smasher Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Time to complete | 3-14 days, spec document only | As little as 48 hours for production DXF files |
| Cost per garment | $150 - $500 for the tech pack alone | From $29 for the production DXF, tech pack add-on $10 |
| 20-piece collection cost | $3,000 - $10,000 | From $580 |
| Revisions | 1-3 days per round, billed | First revision included, then $5 each |
| Consistency | Spec and pattern often made by different people | Tech pack add-on made by the same maker as the pattern |
| Availability | Business hours, freelancer schedule | Design and order anytime, 24/7 |
| Scalability | Limited by designer capacity | Whole collections, one order per garment |
| Learning curve | Requires technical design knowledge | Describe your design in plain English |
AI does not replace technical designers here, it accelerates them. The AI handles the design and visualization work in minutes, and professional pattern makers do the precision work that production demands. The result is faster turnaround without sacrificing accuracy.
Example: Tech Pack for a Heavyweight Cotton Hoodie
Let us walk through exactly what a delivered tech pack looks like for a common garment: a heavyweight cotton hoodie. This is one of the most frequently requested tech packs on the platform.
Garment Overview
The tech pack opens with a garment overview: "Men's pullover hoodie, oversized fit, heavyweight construction. Intended for Fall/Winter 2026. Target market: streetwear and contemporary casual. Target retail price: $85-95 USD." This section also includes the style number, season code, and designer notes about the intended aesthetic.
Bill of Materials
The BOM lists every component: shell fabric (400 GSM organic cotton French terry, 80% cotton / 20% polyester, brushed interior), rib trim (280 GSM 1x1 rib, matching composition), drawcord (8mm flat woven cotton), metal aglets (brushed nickel), main label (woven damask, 40mm x 60mm), care label (printed satin), size label (woven), thread (Coats Dual Duty, tex 40, matching body), and packaging specifications. Each line item includes a color reference, supplier suggestion, and quantity per unit.
Size Chart
The size chart spans S through 2XL with measurements for 12 points: chest width (half), body length (HPS), shoulder width, sleeve length, bicep width, cuff opening, hem width, hood height, hood width, kangaroo pocket width, pocket height, and neck opening. Each measurement is provided in both centimeters and inches. Grading between sizes follows standard 2-inch increments at chest, 1-inch increments at length. Tolerance is set at plus or minus 1cm for major measurements and 0.5cm for minor ones.
Construction Details
Construction specifications include: shoulder seams (4-thread overlock, 12 SPI), side seams (4-thread overlock with safety stitch), sleeve attachment (set-in, 4-thread overlock), hood attachment (overlock with 1/4" cover stitch topstitch), kangaroo pocket (overlock raw edges, topstitch at 1/8" from fold), cuff and hem attachment (1x1 rib, overlock join with single-needle topstitch at 1/4"), bartacks at pocket openings (12mm, 42 stitches), and drawcord channel (1" casing, single-needle lockstitch).
Color and Quality Specifications
Color specs reference Pantone TPX codes — for example, Black (Pantone 19-0303 TPX Jet Black), Charcoal (Pantone 18-0601 TPX Charcoal Gray), and Forest Green (Pantone 19-5511 TPX Trekking Green). QC checkpoints include dimensional stability after washing (max 3% shrinkage), colorfastness to washing (ISO 105-C06, minimum grade 4), pilling resistance (Martindale method, minimum grade 3-4), seam strength (minimum 13 kg/f), and visual inspection criteria for print placement, label alignment, and overall finish.
Who Needs Tech Packs
Independent Fashion Brands
If you are launching your own clothing line, tech packs are non-negotiable. No reputable manufacturer will accept an order without one. For independent brands operating on tight budgets, a $29 starting price removes one of the biggest barriers to entry: the cost and time of technical design. You can go from concept to a manufacturer-ready order in an afternoon.
Private Label and White Label Brands
Private label businesses that customize existing blanks need tech packs to specify their modifications: custom labels, colorways, print placements, and packaging requirements. White label brands creating unique designs from scratch need full tech packs just like any fashion brand. Per-garment pricing makes it economical to order tech packs even for small-batch production runs.
Fashion Design Students
Learning to create tech packs is a core skill in fashion education, but the process can be intimidating for students who have not yet worked with manufacturers. A tech pack made by a professional pattern maker is a reference document: you can see what a production-quality specification looks like, study the structure, and understand what information manufacturers need before creating your own.
Manufacturers and Sourcing Agents
Manufacturers sometimes receive vague or incomplete specifications from clients. A standardized, professionally authored tech pack fills those gaps. Sourcing agents who work with multiple clients can use the service to obtain specification sheets that their factory partners can actually work from, reducing back-and-forth and production delays.
From Tech Pack to Production
The tech pack is step one in a well-defined manufacturing pipeline. Here is how each stage connects:
Tech Pack Generation
You create the specification document that defines every aspect of your garment — materials, measurements, construction, and quality standards. This is what you are doing right now with Smasher Studio.
Pattern Making
A pattern maker translates your tech pack into a set of flat pattern pieces that can be laid on fabric and cut. These patterns account for seam allowances, dart placements, grain lines, and notch marks. Smasher Studio offers professional DXF pattern making services to handle this step.
Sampling
The factory produces one or more prototype garments from your pattern. You review the sample for fit, construction quality, fabric hand, and overall appearance. Expect one to three sampling rounds before approval.
Grading and Marker Making
Once the base pattern is approved, it gets graded to all sizes in your size range. A marker layout is created to optimize fabric usage during cutting, minimizing waste and reducing cost per unit.
Bulk Production
With approved patterns and specs, the factory proceeds to bulk production. Your tech pack serves as the reference document throughout this process — every worker on the line follows its specifications.
DXF Pattern Making Service
Every order delivers production-ready pattern files with AAMA/ASTM DXF-2 standard compliant output, the industry-standard format that works with any CAD/CAM cutting system. If you add the factory tech pack, the same pattern maker authors it alongside the pattern, so you can go directly from specs to cutting table.
Simple
$29
T-shirts, tank tops, basic skirts. 1 revision included, 48 hour turnaround.
Includes: Production-ready DXF files, cut by a professional pattern maker
Standard
$59
Hoodies, button-downs, structured pants. 1 revision included, 72 hour turnaround.
Includes: Production-ready DXF files, cut by a professional pattern maker
Complex
$129
Tailored blazers, outerwear, technical garments. 1 revision included, 5 day turnaround.
Includes: Production-ready DXF files, cut by a professional pattern maker
Grading ($15), marker layout ($10), factory tech pack ($10) and seam allowances ($5) are available as add-ons on your order until delivery.
Tech Pack Pricing
The production DXF pattern is priced per garment: $29 simple, $59 standard, $129 complex (see the tiers above). The first revision is included and additional revisions are $5 each. Grading ($15), marker layout ($10), the factory tech pack ($10) and seam allowances ($5) can be added to the order until delivery, and nothing is charged before you complete checkout. The AI design work that comes before the order runs on monthly plan credits:
Free
$0
50 credits/month
Monthly reset, about 10 AI images
Creator
$19/mo
350 credits/mo
About 70 AI images per month
Most Popular
Studio
$49/mo
900 credits/mo
About 180 AI images per month
Pro
$99/mo
2,000 credits/mo
About 400 AI images per month
Need more credits without upgrading? Purchase top-ups starting at $5 for 50 credits. Top-up credits never expire and require an active subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Smasher Studio tech pack service work?+
How accurate are the tech packs compared to hiring a technical designer?+
Can I request changes after delivery?+
What garment types does the service support?+
How much does a tech pack cost?+
Do manufacturers accept these tech packs?+
Can I order tech packs for an entire collection?+
What is the difference between a tech pack and a pattern?+
Related Tools and Guides
How to Make a Tech Pack
Step-by-step guide to creating complete garment specifications.
How to Find a Clothing Manufacturer
Source reliable factories for your fashion brand.
AI Fashion Design
Design entire collections with AI-generated imagery.
Fashion Brand Startup Costs
Realistic budgets for launching a clothing brand.
Collection Launch
Your first collection, taken from idea to launch: curated designs, colorways, a lookbook, and production-ready pattern files, guided from start to finish.
Collection Launch isn't available yet. Nothing can be purchased today, and no payment is taken.
Stop Waiting Weeks for Tech Packs
Design your garment with AI, then let professional pattern makers deliver the tech pack and DXF pattern your manufacturer needs, in as little as 48 hours. Free to start, no credit card required.