Hoodie Tech Pack: What to Include Before Your First Private Label Run

A hoodie looks simple until you try to get one made the way you pictured it. Most first private-label runs go wrong for the same reason: the brand sends a mood board and a logo, and the factory has to guess everything else. A tech pack removes the guessing.

This guide walks through what a hoodie tech pack should contain, section by section, the way we read them when a new brand sends one to our textile team. It is written for small apparel brands, gyms, merch agencies and team dealers placing their first or second custom hoodie order.

Why a hoodie needs a tech pack at all

Ask three factories to quote "a black heavyweight hoodie with a chest logo" and you will get three different garments back. One will use a lighter fleece, one will cut a boxy fit, one will put the logo two inches lower than you meant. None of them is wrong, because none of them was told.

A tech pack is the written agreement between you and the maker about what "right" looks like. It does three jobs:

• It gets you comparable quotes. Price depends on fabric, construction and decoration. If every quote is based on the same document, you can compare them line by line.
• It makes the sample useful. When the first sample arrives, you check it against the tech pack instead of against a memory of what you wanted.
• It protects your reorders. Your second run should match your first. A saved tech pack, updated after sample approval, is how that happens.

If you have already read our leather jacket tech pack guide, the structure is similar, but a hoodie raises its own questions: fleece type, rib, hood construction, drawcords and print placement on a soft, stretchy surface.

The 10 sections of a hoodie tech pack

You do not need expensive software. A clear PDF or spreadsheet with one section per page works. What matters is that each section answers its questions completely.

1. Cover page

• Brand name, style name and a style number you will reuse on every reorder (for example, your brand initials plus a number).
• Season or drop name, if you use them.
• Version number and date. Every time you change something, bump the version so nobody works from an old file.
• A contact name for questions, so the factory knows who can approve changes.

2. Flat sketches

Flats are clean line drawings of the garment laid flat: front, back, and a side or hood view. They are not fashion illustrations. Draw every seam, pocket, panel and stitch line you want. Call out:

• Pullover or full zip, and zipper length if full zip.
• Kangaroo pocket, split pockets or no pocket.
• Hood shape: two-panel or three-panel, lined or single layer.
• Sleeve style: set-in or raglan.
• Drop shoulder or standard shoulder.
• Any side panels, side slits, thumbholes or a split hem.

3. Fit and measurement spec

This is the section most first-time brands skip and most regret. List every point of measure (POM), how to measure it, and the target measurement for each size. Agree a tolerance with the factory before sampling so "close enough" has a number attached.

Point of measure	How to measure
Chest width	Laid flat, 1 inch below the armhole, side seam to side seam
Body length	High point of shoulder to bottom of the hem rib
Shoulder width	Shoulder seam to shoulder seam across the back
Sleeve length	Shoulder seam to end of the cuff rib (or center back neck to cuff for raglan)
Bicep width	Laid flat, 1 inch below the armhole, straight across the sleeve
Cuff opening and cuff rib height	Relaxed, laid flat
Hem width and hem rib height	Relaxed, laid flat
Hood height and hood width	Highest point of hood to neck seam; widest point across
Pocket width, height and position	Measured from a fixed point such as the hem seam

The easiest way to build this is to measure a hoodie you already love the fit of, write it down for your base size, and let the maker grade the other sizes from it. Our standard size range is XS to 4XL, and our team will confirm extended sizes for textile styles when you send your spec. For the fit language customers understand, see our size guide.

4. Fabric

Write the fabric down in terms a mill would recognise, not marketing words like "premium" or "buttery".

• Construction: fleece (brushed inside), French terry (looped inside), or something else.
• Fiber content: for example cotton, cotton-polyester blend, or a blend with a little elastane.
• Weight: in GSM (grams per square meter). Weight is the single biggest driver of how "heavyweight" a hoodie feels and of its cost, so state it.
• Finish: any wash, garment dye or enzyme finish you want (our guide to acid wash vs garment dye explains the trade-offs).
• Shrinkage expectation: ask whether the fabric is pre-shrunk and plan your spec around it.

If you are unsure what weight you want, do not guess. Ask for fabric swatches, or in metro Atlanta, ask to see a local textile sample in hand before you decide.

5. Color

Screens lie. A color named only as "forest green" will come back in whatever the mill thinks forest green is. Give each color a reference the maker can match: a recognized color-system code, or a physical swatch you mail. List body color, rib color (same or contrast), drawcord color, and thread color separately. If the rib must match the body exactly, say so, because rib is often knitted separately and can shift in shade.

6. Trims and hardware

• Rib: cuff and hem rib type (for example 1x1 or 2x2) and height.
• Drawcord: flat or round, width, color, tip finish (metal, plastic, knotted, heat-sealed), or no drawcord at all.
• Eyelets: metal or embroidered, finish color.
• Zipper (full-zip styles): type, tooth size, puller shape and finish.
• Stitching: thread color, and whether you want flatlock or standard cover-stitch on seams.

Trims are where a basic hoodie starts to look like a brand. Contrast drawcords, custom metal tips or a branded zipper puller are small details that buyers notice.

7. Artwork and decoration placement

For every logo or graphic, give the factory:

1. The vector file (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF), not a screenshot.
2. Finished size in inches or centimeters, width and height.
3. Exact placement, measured from a fixed point. "Center chest, 3.5 inches below the neck seam" is a placement. "On the chest" is not.
4. The decoration method: embroidery, screen print, DTF, puff print, or a woven or chenille patch.
5. Ink or thread colors for each element.

Place artwork on the flat sketch as a mock-up, then repeat the measurements in text. Remember that a print sized for a medium will look smaller on a 3XL and can run into the seams on an XS. Decide whether artwork scales by size or stays one size across the run, and write it down. If you are still choosing a method, read embroidery vs screen print vs DTF before you finalize this page. Our team will confirm which methods suit your artwork and fabric.

8. Labels and branding

Private label means the hoodie carries your brand, not ours. Specify:

• Main neck label: woven, printed (tagless) or a patch, with size and position.
• Size label and care label content and placement.
• Any hem flag label or sleeve label.
• Hang tags and how they attach.

Our guide to woven labels and hang tags covers what to put on each one. Custom labels and branding are available on our textile runs.

9. Packaging

Say how each piece should be folded, whether it goes in an individual polybag, whether bags carry a size sticker, and how many pieces per carton. If you sell online, ask for size labels on the outside of each bag so your packing team does not open them to check.

10. Size breakdown and colorways

The last page is the order itself: each colorway and how many units per size. Even when you are only quoting, include an estimated breakdown so the maker can plan fabric.

Colorway	XS	S	M	L	XL	2XL	3XL	4XL
Black / black rib
Heather grey / black rib

There is no minimum order with us, so this table can be as small as your launch needs. Many first-time brands start with one style in one or two colors, sell through, and then add colorways once they know which sizes move.

Step by step: from tech pack to first delivery

1. Send the tech pack and your rough quantities. Email it, or submit it through the form on our wholesale page. If you are not sure what is possible, browse the textile catalog first and reference a style from it.
2. Answer the questions that come back. A good maker will ask about anything unclear. Every question answered now is one less surprise in the sample.
3. Review the quote. Check that it reflects your fabric weight, decoration method and label spec, not a generic hoodie.
4. Approve a sample. Measure it against your spec, check color in daylight, wash it once and measure again, and check that the artwork sits where your tech pack says.
5. Update the tech pack. Record every change agreed at sample stage and bump the version number. This updated file is what production follows.
6. Production. Our textile runs take about 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the style and decoration.
7. Delivery. US buyers get free shipping with duties paid. International buyers receive FOB or CIF quotes.

Questions to ask before you approve production

• Which points of measure have a tolerance, and what is it?
• Is the fabric pre-shrunk, and how much movement should I expect after the first wash?
• Will the rib match the body color, or is a slight variation normal for this fabric?
• Does my artwork scale by size or stay fixed?
• Which decoration method do you recommend for this logo on this fabric, and why?
• How will each piece be folded, bagged and labeled?
• If I reorder in three months, what do you need from me to match this run?

Honest trade-offs to decide early

Heavier fabric vs price. A heavier fleece feels more premium and usually costs more. If your customers are buying a gym or event hoodie to wear once a week, a mid-weight may be the better business choice.

Custom fit vs speed. Building a pattern from your own spec takes more back-and-forth than adapting an existing block. If you need goods fast, start from a style in the catalog and customize fabric, color, labels and decoration. Our article on moving from blank hoodies to cut and sew covers when the extra effort pays off.

More decoration vs cleaner product. Every extra print or embroidery location adds cost and another thing to approve. One strong placement often sells better than four weak ones.

A detailed tech pack vs "just make it". Some buyers want to skip the paperwork. You can, but you accept the maker's assumptions. A two-page tech pack is better than none.

Common hoodie tech pack mistakes

• Sizing only the base size and leaving grading to guesswork.
• Using a color name with no reference code or swatch.
• Sending a low-resolution logo pulled from social media.
• Giving placement as "chest" or "back" with no measurement.
• Forgetting the inside: labels, care instructions and packaging.
• Not updating the file after sample changes, so production follows the old version.

FAQ

Do I need a tech pack for a small hoodie order?

Yes, even a short one. With no minimum order, small runs are common, and a small run with the wrong logo placement is still a lost run. A clear two- to four-page tech pack covers most hoodies.

Can I make a tech pack without design software?

Yes. Hand-drawn flats photographed clearly, a measurement table in a spreadsheet and vector artwork files are enough to start a conversation. What matters is that every measurement and placement is written down.

How long does a private label hoodie run take?

Our textile runs take about 2 to 4 weeks once the sample is approved, depending on the style and decoration. Our team will confirm the timeline for your order when we quote.

Can I see a sample before I order?

Buyers in metro Atlanta can see local textile samples in person. For buyers elsewhere, our team will confirm sampling options when you send your tech pack.

Can you add my own labels and tags?

Yes. Private label and custom labels and branding are available, including neck labels, care labels and hang tags. Include your label spec in the tech pack.

Ready to turn your tech pack into a first run? Email it to info@whiteburaq.com or send your details through our wholesale page, and our team will review it, ask any questions and come back with a quote.