Product Development: From Sketch to Sample
Master tech packs, find the right manufacturer, and get your first sample made properly.
Product development is the bridge between your idea and a sellable product. Think of it like building a house — you wouldn't hand a builder a doodle and say 'just make it like this.' This chapter gives you the blueprint.
The Product Development Timeline
Six stages: 1) Concept and sketch, 2) Technical development (tech pack), 3) Fabric and trim sourcing, 4) First sample, 5) Fit and refinement, 6) Pre-production sample. Each stage must be completed before moving to the next.
What a Tech Pack Is and Why It's Essential
A tech pack is your product's blueprint — design from every angle, measurements for every size, fabric, colour references, trims, labels, stitching details. Without one, you're asking someone to read your mind. If someone who doesn't know you had to create your garment from the information you provide, could they do it?
The 4 Sampling Stages
- First Sample: The conversation starter. Expect it to be wrong — that's normal.
- Fit Sample: Adjusted based on your feedback. Focus on fit and proportion.
- Pre-Production Sample: Final fabrics, trims, and construction. This is your 'golden sample.'
- Production Sample: Taken from the actual production run. Must match the golden sample exactly.
What you allow at sampling will be multiplied across your entire production run.
Common Disasters and How to Prevent Them
- Final product doesn't match sample: Keep a signed-off 'golden sample' for reference
- Problems only show in wear: Wear-test, wash, move in every sample
- Endless back-and-forth: Invest in your tech pack upfront
- Approving 'good enough' from fatigue: Remember — it gets multiplied 500 times
Chapter 3 Templates & Worksheets
Tech Pack Template (Blank + T-Shirt + Hoodie Examples)
Professional tech pack template with measurement tables, construction details, and trim specifications
Manufacturer Vetting Scorecard
8-criteria scorecard rated out of 40 with keep/review/replace thresholds
Sampling Budget Planner
Calculate your total sampling cost across multiple rounds
25-Point Quality Control Checklist
Fabric (8 points), construction (10 points), packaging (7 points)
Your Action Step
Download the tech pack template. Fill it in for your hero product. Include: sketch from 3 angles, all measurements, fabric choice, colour reference, and trim details. The more specific you are now, the closer your first sample will be.
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