A good tech pack is the single thing that most separates buyers who get accurate quotes and clean first samples from buyers who get vague prices and three rounds of revisions. Most enquiries we receive are too thin to quote properly. Here is exactly what to put in a glove tech pack, written from the receiving end - what we actually need to see to quote you accurately the first time.
Why the Tech Pack Decides Your Whole Experience
From the factory side, the quality of your tech pack predicts the quality of your entire project. A precise spec lets us quote accurately, sample correctly the first time, and hold the supplier accountable to a written standard. A vague brief - custom work gloves, good quality, best price - forces us to guess, and every guess is a place where the sample comes back wrong and the timeline slips. The buyers who get the smoothest projects are not the biggest; they are the ones whose tech pack answers our questions before we ask them. Spending two hours on a proper spec sheet routinely saves two weeks of back-and-forth, and it is the cheapest leverage a buyer has.
Materials - Be Specific or Get Substituted
The materials section is where vagueness costs the most. Do not write leather - write full-grain cowhide, 0.8-1.0mm, chrome-tanned. Do not write cut-resistant - write 13-gauge HPPE liner, ANSI A4 / EN 388 cut level C. For coated gloves, name the coating (nitrile foam, sandy nitrile, PU, latex crinkle) and where it goes (palm, palm-and-fingers, full dip). Name the lining and its weight (e.g. 100g Thinsulate). Every material you leave generic is a material the quoting process will fill with the cheapest option that technically matches your word - so specify, or accept the substitution. Our materials guide gives the vocabulary and price bands to write this section precisely.
Construction and Measurements
This section turns a description into a manufacturable object. Gauge for knits (7/10/13/15), or panel construction for sewn gloves. Seam type and stitch density (SPI - stitches per inch). Cuff style and length in actual measurements (a 4-inch knit cuff versus a 14-inch gauntlet). Thumb construction (keyhole, straight, wing). Closure (knit, hook-and-loop, elastic, snap). And critically, key measurements: hand length, palm width, finger lengths or at least a full size run with measurements. If you have a reference glove, a measured spec of it is gold. Construction details and measurements are what let us build to your intent rather than our default pattern.
Sizing, Quantities per Size, and the Size Run
State your full size run (XS-XXL or numeric 6-11) and - this is the part buyers forget - the quantity breakdown per size. Total quantity alone is not enough to quote or produce; we need the size ratio. Note your target market, because hand sizes and size labelling differ between US, EU and Asia. If you are unsure of the right run, say so and we will propose one - but a tech pack that specifies the size breakdown lets us quote the real production, not an average. Our glove sizing guide covers how to measure and grade a run properly.
Decoration and Branding Spec
Specify the decoration method (embroidery, screen print, silicone print, debossing, heat transfer, sublimation), the placement (with a measurement from a seam or edge), the size of the logo, and the colours - ideally as Pantone references, not red. Provide the logo as vector artwork (AI/EPS/PDF), not a low-res JPG pulled from a website. State whether the colour must match an existing product. Decoration is a major cost and MOQ driver, and the method interacts with the fabric (embroidery puckers on stretch, print cracks on textured leather), so the more precise this section, the fewer surprises. See our decoration comparison for which method suits which glove.
Packaging, Compliance and Labelling
The often-forgotten back third of a tech pack. Packaging: polybag, header card, hang tag, dispenser box, retail-ready box, master carton quantity, barcodes (provide the actual UPC/EAN). Compliance: which standards must the glove meet and be tested to (EN 388, EN 374, EN 407, ANSI cut, FDA food-contact, EU REACH), and do you need third-party reports. Labelling: care labels, country of origin, CE marking and category, required pictograms. Specifying these up front means they are costed into the quote and built into the first sample, rather than discovered late as a change order. Our packaging guide details the retail packaging options.
Reference Samples, Tolerances and Approval Process
Round out the tech pack with the practical control points. If you have a reference or competitor sample, send it - a physical reference resolves more ambiguity than pages of description. State acceptable tolerances (e.g. plus/minus 5% on weight, plus/minus a measurement on dimensions) so a slightly-off sample is judged against a written standard, not a feeling. Define the approval process: who approves the pre-production sample, against what, and that bulk does not start until the sealed sample is approved. This is also where you reference the AQL inspection level you will hold at - which we cover in our AQL inspection guide. These control points are what make the spec enforceable.
Our Honest Position on Tech Packs
We would genuinely rather receive a detailed tech pack than a big order with a vague one, because the detailed spec is what lets us quote honestly, sample right the first time, and stand behind the result. If your tech pack is thin we will send back a structured list of questions rather than guess - and buyers who answer those questions get a far better project. You do not need a designer or fancy software; a clear document covering materials, construction, sizing, decoration, packaging and compliance is enough. If you want, send us what you have and we will tell you exactly which fields are missing before we quote - that conversation is free and it is the best two hours you can spend on a sourcing project.
Want a Second Opinion on Your Tech Pack?
We review around 8-12 tech packs a week from buyers comparing factories. Free, no obligation - we will flag construction issues, suggest fabric alternatives, and tell you if a quote you got elsewhere is realistic.
This guide is updated when industry conditions change - the last revision was based on Q1 2026 fabric pricing and CN-EU freight rates.