Reading a tech pack like a technologist
By Sanjeewa Dehiwalage · 8 min read · Published 2026-09-18 · Editorial status: review pending
The reading order experienced technologists use, and the missing information that causes most first-sample rejections.
Read for silences, not only for instructions
A tech pack rarely fails because something written in it is wrong. It fails because something is missing and each party fills the gap differently — an unstated tolerance, a trim with no supplier reference, a measurement point defined in words but not in a diagram. Read the pack once specifically hunting for what is not stated.
- Tolerances on every critical measurement point
- How each point is measured, not just its value
- Trim references, placement and approval status
- Wash or finish expectations tied to the measurement stage
A reading order that catches problems early
Start with the measurement chart and construction details together, because that pairing decides whether the garment is makeable. Then the bill of materials, because it decides whether it is buyable at the price. Then the finishing and packing pages, which decide whether it is shippable. Comments and revision history last — they tell you which decisions are still moving.
Send questions before the first sample, not after
Group your questions once and send them in a single list with your assumed answer for each. Assumptions written down are cheap to correct; assumptions discovered in a rejected sample are not.
Key takeaways
- Hunt for missing information, not wrong information
- Read measurements and construction together first
- Send one grouped question list with your assumptions stated
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Roles this article is written for
Merchandiser · Pattern Maker
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Free to read, no sign-in and no charge. Practitioner notes from factory experience — not an accredited qualification and not a substitute for your buyer's or employer's own standards.