Tech Packs and Samples: What Bangladesh Factories Need From You

Most first orders go wrong before a single stitch is sewn. A buyer sends a photo and a rough idea, the factory guesses at the details, and the sample comes back wrong. Then everyone blames everyone else. The fix is boring but reliable: give the factory a clear tech pack, then work through sample rounds in a disciplined order.

This guide explains exactly what an apparel manufacturer in Bangladesh needs from you to quote and produce your product, what the sampling stages are, and how approvals work so you know when you are safe to start bulk. If you get this part right, everything downstream (pricing, quality, timing) gets easier.

What a tech pack is and why it matters

A tech pack (technical package) is the single document that tells a factory how to make your product. It replaces conversation and memory with a written specification everyone can point to. When a dispute comes up later ("this is not what we agreed"), the tech pack is the reference that settles it.

Think of it as the contract for the physical product. A good tech pack lets three different factories quote the same garment and give you prices you can actually compare. A vague brief gets you three different products and three prices that mean nothing.

You do not need expensive software. A clean set of pages (or a well-labeled spreadsheet plus drawings) is enough, as long as it is complete and unambiguous.

What to include in a garment tech pack

A workable tech pack for apparel usually contains these parts:

Technical sketch (flat drawing). Front and back line drawings of the garment, with callouts pointing to seams, pockets, plackets, and stitching. Photos of a reference garment help, but a sketch removes guesswork.
Bill of materials (BOM). Every material in the product: main fabric, lining, thread, labels, zippers, buttons, drawcords, elastic, hangtags, and packaging. List the composition, weight, color, and supplier where you have a preference.
Fabric spec. Fiber content (for example 100% cotton, or 95% cotton / 5% elastane), knit or woven construction, and weight. For knits this is usually GSM (grams per square meter); for wovens it may be given as ounces or a fabric count. State any finish (enzyme wash, brushed, garment-dyed).
Measurement chart (points of measure). The finished measurements for each size, at each point (chest, length, sleeve, hem, and so on), with the tolerance you will accept (for example plus or minus 1 cm). This is the heart of fit and grading.
Construction details. Stitch types, seam types, stitches per inch, topstitching, and any reinforcement. Note where you care and where the factory can use its standard.
Colorways and Pantone references. Each color option, ideally with a Pantone TCX (textile) code rather than a screen color, because screens lie.
Artwork. Print, embroidery, and label placement with size and position measured from a fixed point (for example, print center 8 cm below collar seam).
Labeling and packaging. Care label wording, fiber content and country-of-origin requirements for your market, folding, polybag, and carton specs.

If you are missing pieces, say so. A good factory or sourcing partner will fill gaps by proposing standards, but you should approve those choices rather than discover them in the sample.

The sampling process, round by round

Sampling is where the paper turns into a physical product. It happens in stages, and each stage answers a different question. Skipping stages to save time is the most common way buyers lose time.

1. Proto / development sample

The first make. It tests whether the design works as a garment: proportions, construction, and general look. It is often made in whatever similar fabric is on hand, so do not judge color or exact fabric here. Expect to comment and send it back. Two or three proto rounds are normal for a new style.

2. Fit sample

Made to your measurement chart, this checks fit and grading across sizes. You (or a fit model) try it on, mark corrections, and the factory revises the pattern. Fit comments should be specific and tied to your points of measure, not "make it slimmer."

3. Size set

Samples in a run of sizes (for example S, M, L, XL) to confirm the grading holds across the size curve, not just on your sample size.

4. Pre-production sample (PP sample)

This is the important one. The PP sample is made with the correct bulk fabric, correct trims, correct color, and the correct process. It represents what bulk production will actually look like. You approve the PP sample as the standard, and the factory keeps a sealed, signed copy. Bulk should match it.

Do not authorize bulk before you have approved a PP sample. This single rule prevents most quality disasters.

5. Top of production (TOP) sample

Pulled from the actual production line early in the run, so you can confirm the line is producing to the approved standard before the full quantity is finished. This ties directly into quality control and inspection.

You will also see lab dips (small fabric swatches dyed to your color for approval) and strike-offs (test prints) as sub-approvals along the way.

Approvals: what "approved" should mean

An approval is a decision, in writing, that a specific sample meets the standard. Keep it clean:

Approve or reject against the tech pack, not against your mood that day.
Put comments in writing with photos and measurements. "Sleeve 2 cm too long at size M" beats "sleeves feel off."
Sign and date the PP sample and keep your own copy. It is your reference if bulk drifts.
Log every approval so the factory and you share one version of the truth.

A good sourcing partner manages this loop for you, chasing samples, translating comments, and keeping the paper trail so nothing gets approved by silence.

What sampling costs and how long it takes

Two honest points here, without fake numbers.

Cost. Factories usually charge a sampling fee per style, and sometimes a pattern or development fee, especially at low volumes or for complex styles. Some credit part of it back against a bulk order. Courier costs for shipping samples internationally add up, so batch your shipments where you can. We do not quote flat sample prices in a blog because they vary by product, fabric, and factory; ask for them in writing up front. See our note on how these fold into unit cost in the cost to manufacture apparel in Bangladesh.

Time. Each sample round involves making, shipping, reviewing, and revising, and international courier alone can take several days each way. Multiple rounds add up quickly, which is why buyers who send a complete tech pack and clear comments finish sampling far faster than those who improvise. Build sampling into your calendar as its own phase, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a tech pack, or can I just send photos?

Photos help, but they are not enough on their own. A photo does not tell the factory your measurements, fabric weight, thread color, or tolerances. Send both: reference photos plus a written spec. If you do not have a tech pack, we can help you build one from your samples or drawings.

How many sample rounds should I expect?

For a new style, plan for a few proto rounds, a fit sample, and a pre-production sample at minimum. Simple products need fewer; complex constructions or precise fit need more. The cleaner your brief and comments, the fewer rounds you will need.

Can a factory make my sample without minimum order quantities applying?

Sampling and bulk MOQ are separate. You can usually get samples made before committing to a full order, though sample fees apply. Bulk still carries a minimum order quantity, which we cover in understanding MOQ in Bangladesh.

What is the difference between a PP sample and a TOP sample?

A pre-production (PP) sample is made with correct bulk materials before the line runs and becomes your approved standard. A top-of-production (TOP) sample is pulled from the live production run to confirm the line is matching that standard.

How we can help

We turn a rough idea into a factory-ready brief, then run the sampling loop for you: building or cleaning up your tech pack, matching you to the right apparel manufacturer in Bangladesh, chasing each sample round, translating your comments, and sealing an approved pre-production sample before bulk starts. You review and approve; we handle the back-and-forth on the ground in Dhaka. If you are ready to start a style, tell us what you need and we will map out the samples and timeline. New to the whole process? Start with our guide on how to source clothing from Bangladesh.