Dana says:

This collection of documents is also called a “tech pack”. I would advise anyone needing to use these types of documents to include a “flat sketch”. It’s a technical drawing (as if the garment were laid out flat) that shows all the seams, pockets, topstitching, proportions, etc. that make up the garment detail. The sketch needs to show front and back and sometimes even close ups of detail if needed, for a specific garment. It is a far more reliable element than a photograph to communicate design detail. I wouldn’t send anything overseas for development work without it. Patten makers work from these as well. I put a copy of this sketch on my cutting tickets (with a fabric swatch) and all other development communication even domestically. The old picture is worth a thousand words thing.

Labeling was mentioned. Keep in mind that not only do you need to tell the contractor where to put them but you are responsible for accurate wording on labels. Content, care, c of o, … Contractors don’t do this for you.

One other element that was missed above, is garment measurements. You need to document the bust, waist, hip, etc of your garments otherwise you won’t know if they’ve been graded correctly or be able to verify for quality control later. For example, if you run jeans and need a size 26 but production comes in and the waist measures 30″, you have a problem. If not documented originally, you’ll have no grounds to fight your contractor or your grader. Some people refer to just the measurement sheet as the “specs”.

Not sure if you were using the word HERO as a style name reference, ie the hero shirt or suggesting that that was the terminology for the final approved sample. I’ve never heard it used that way. The phases I’m familiar with would be “approval sample” or “preproduction sample”.

This isn’t the sexy part of doing a clothing line but it will help keep you in business. Important stuff.

Kathleen Fasanella says:

I hope this product plug is permitted. It’s not mine and I don’t gain from recommending it but I love it. The software is called StyleFile and it does everything to put your tech packs together as listed above (Heya Dana!) and a whole lot more. The LE version is under $700. Anyone who works in apparel and sewn product development will love it. One example of “does everything” is being able to drag and drop seam class schematics into the spec sheets directly. It’ll also create line sheets, cutting tickets, compile shrinkage testing results etc etc ad nauseum. As Dana mentions, a spec sheet is but one of a whole collection of documents needed.