Why Fabric Comes First in Fashion Production
Before the to begin with stitch is sewn or a prototype is made, each fashion brand must reply one vital question: What fabric will bring my design to life? Choosing the right fabric isn’t just a inventive decision—it’s a key production choice that can make or break your garment.
At TechPack.us, we help creators, brands, and new businesses streamline their generation handle through expertly made tech packs. But no tech pack—whether it’s a hoodie tech pack, t shirt tech pack, or a total clothing tech pack—can be completely exact without locking down the fabric first.
In this blog, we’ll direct you step-by-step on how to select the ideal fabric for your garment and how it straightforwardly influences your apparel tech pack.
Why Fabric Selection is a Critical First Step
Fabric Dictates Fit, Function, and Aesthetics
Each fabric behaves differently in construction, strength, stretch, and visual offer. A polyester mix won’t drape the same way a silk crepe does, nor will a heavyweight downy perform like a light cotton shirt. Selecting the off-base fabric can compromise your whole design and lead to a tech pack that misrepresents the last product.
A well-thought-out tech pack for garment must incorporate fabric details so manufacturers can source accurately, quote pricing accurately, and develop prototypes that match your vision.
It Affects Nearly Every Section of Your Tech Pack
- Measurements: Shrinkage or stretch affects garment dimensions.
- Construction: Stitch type and seam placement depend on fabric strength and behavior.
- Labeling & Packaging: Care instructions and folding styles vary with thickness and flexibility.
Whether you’re designing a hoodie, sweatshirt, or t-shirt, fabric choice affects the entire tech pack lifecycle—from BOM to sample revision.
Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing the Right Fabric
Step 1: Define Your Garment’s Purpose
Begin by understanding the garment’s utilize case. Is it for casual wear, tall fashion, execution wear, or loungewear?
- Hoodie Tech Pack → Needs warmth, toughness, and structure. See for downy, cotton mixes, or French terry.
- T Shirt Tech Pack → Lightweight and breathable textures like cotton shirt or modular work best.
- Sweatshirt Tech Pack → Mid-weight sews like French terry or loopback cotton are perfect for consolation and warmth.
Every work requires a fabric that enhances the garment’s performance. Begin with this clarity.
Step 2: Choose Between Woven and Knit
Fabric construction matters.
- Woven Fabrics: Less extend, more structure. Best for formal wear, coats, trousers.
- Knit Fabrics: Normally stretchable and delicate. Perfect for t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies.
Tech pack tip: Continuously specify whether your texture is woven or sew. It makes a difference producers decide crease construction, needle sort, and machine settings.
Step 3: Understand GSM (Grams Per Square Meter)
GSM tells you the weight of the fabric. Higher GSM = heavier and thicker texture. This impacts warmth, wrap, and movement.
Examples:
- Lightweight (100–160 GSM): Great for summer t-shirts or blouses.
- Mid-weight (160–280 GSM): Perfect for long sleeve t-shirts and light sweatshirts.
- Heavyweight (280+ GSM): Best for hoodies, outerwear, and organized garments.
Include the GSM in your clothing tech pack to guarantee your producer sources the right fabric.
Step 4: Test for Stretch and Recovery
If your garment needs adaptability (e.g., activewear or slim-fit items), guarantee your fabric has great extend and recovery.
- Two-Way Stretch: Stretches in one heading (commonly utilized in leggings).
- Four-Way Stretch: Stretches both evenly and vertically. Perfect for execution wear.
In your tech pack, include extend rate and suggested sewing sorts (e.g., flatlock for extend creases).
Step 5: Evaluate Durability and Care
Choose fabrics that coordinate your garment’s anticipated lifecycle. Will it be machine-washed weekly or dry-cleaned occasionally?
- Durable Fabrics: Cotton-polyester mixes, canvas, nylon.
- Delicate Fabrics: Rayon, silk, fleece require uncommon care.
Add washing informational in your attire tech pack, counting symbols, temperatures, and care names.
Step 6: Source and Test
Never go by photos or merchant guarantees alone. Arrange swatches and test the fabric’s:
- Shrinkage (after washing)
- Colorfastness (introduction to light or water)
- Texture and feel
- Compatibility with your design (sewing, cutting, etc.)
Once finalized, reference the correct provider, texture ID, and swatch code in your tech pack.
How to Document Fabric Details in Your Tech Pack
A complete tech pack for garment must clearly specify fabric information to eliminate confusion and minimize production errors.
What to Include:
- Fabric name and supplier
- Fiber composition (e.g., 95% cotton / 5% elastane)
- GSM and fabric width
- Shrinkage tolerance (e.g., 3% max)
- Color codes / Pantone values
- Fabric finish (e.g., brushed, enzyme-washed)
- Country of origin
- Certifications (e.g., GOTS, OEKO-TEX)
Each of these should be listed in the Bill of Materials (BOM) and spec sheet of your clothing tech pack.
Common Fabrics by Garment Type
Hoodie Tech Pack
- Brushed Fleece: Ultra-soft and warm
- French Terry: Loopback surface, breathable
- Cotton-Polyester Blend: Reduces shrinkage, increases durability
T Shirt Tech Pack
- Cotton Jersey: Soft, breathable, and affordable
- Combed Cotton: High-end finish, fewer impurities
- Modal / Bamboo Blends: Sustainable, smooth, and modern
Sweatshirt Tech Pack
- Loopback Cotton: Great for year-round comfort
- Heavy Jersey: Structured but flexible
- Tri-blends: Lightweight and wrinkle-resistant
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Fabric
- ❌ Ignoring shrinkage: Always test pre-shrunk fabrics
- ❌ Not matching fabric to garment type: Heavy fleece for a t-shirt? Bad idea.
- ❌ Skipping the swatch test: Touch, stretch, wash before committing
- ❌ Not updating your tech pack after fabric changes
- ❌ Relying on generic descriptions like “cotton” without GSM, supplier, or finish
Avoid these errors to save yourself weeks of delays and hundreds of dollars in revisions.
Why Fabric Choice Impacts Your Production Timeline and Cost
The off-base fabric can demolish an whole generation run. It might extend as well much, shrivel suddenly, or drain color onto other pieces. Even a 5% irregularity in texture behavior can result in:
- Unusable samples
- Size grading errors
- Incorrect crease placement
- Returned items from customers
Your tech pack becomes a safeguard—when fabric is chosen admirably and reported well, it secures your brand, spares time, and ensures a better item.
Conclusion: How to Pick your Fabric
If you start with the off-base fabric or leave fabric details out of your tech pack, the result can be baffling: imperfect samples, production delays, destitute fits, or garments that don’t adjust with your brand’s standards. That’s why How to Pick Your Fabric isn’t fair a design decision—it’s a generation strategy.
For any designer or clothing brand genuine around quality and proficiency, How to Pick Your Fabric should come before making your hoodie tech pack, t shirt tech pack, or sweatshirt tech pack. When fabric is chosen with reason, your clothing tech pack becomes more accurate, more useful to manufacturers, and less inclined to error.
At TechPack.us, we support you through each stage of generation. We help you get it how to pick your fabric, match it to your garment fashion, and archive it precisely in your apparel tech pack. From casual streetwear to premium mold, your plan merits a tech pack built on the right foundation—and that begins with fabric.
So, if you’re prepared to dispatch your following mold line with certainty, clarity, and speed, let us help you make the to begin with (and most critical) choice: how to pick your fabric wisely.
Prepared to choose your idealize texture and construct a bulletproof tech pack?
Let TechPack.us direct your generation travel with accuracy and ability.
FAQs: How to Pick your Fabric
What fabric is best for a hoodie?
Fabrics like brushed fleece, French terry, and cotton-polyester mixes are well known for hoodies due to their warmth, strength, and softness.
Should I include fabric specs in my tech pack?
Yes! Include composition, GSM, provider information, shrinkage resilience, and color codes in your tech pack to dodge disarray amid production.
Can I use one fabric for multiple garments?
Possibly, but each design may require slight varieties. A fabric incredible for hoodies might be as well overwhelming for t-shirts.
How do I test my fabric before finalizing it?
Order swatches, wash and dry them, sew tests, and evaluate for shrinkage, colorfastness, and drape.
Does TechPack.us offer assistance with fabric sourcing?
Yes, we offer sourcing direction and can interface you with legitimate texture providers that suit your extend needs.
