Apparel Tech Pack Freelancer in Ho Chi Minh City

How to describe color in an apparel tech pack?

Did you know that there are more than 10 different shades of black? Same is true for white. It is not enough to ask the factory for blue - not even royal blue. There are many kinds of blue and what is royal to one eye is not royal to another. There is an industry standard system of colors for textiles and it is called the Pantone system. Each Pantone color has a specific code and these codes need to be included in your tech pack. All reputable factories use the Pantone system. This system is the reference point when there is a dispute about color.


Just defining the Pantone color of your fabric is not enough. You also need to clearly state the colors used on buttons, drawstrings, zippers, thread, neck-tape, interlining etc. If you don’t then the factory must guess. If they guess wrong then everybody loses money. Be sure to include the Pantone color code in your bill of materials (BOM.)


Diep's comments about color are: "yes the best way to identify color is to use the pantone color code. Note that there are four types of Pantone color systems: TC/TCX and TP/TPX. TC stands for textile cotton. TP stands for textile paper. The X stands for extended range. When you are talking about the color fabric you should be using the TCX Pantone system. Use it to compare fabric color as well as trims that the supplier or factory use for sampling. Remember that, not only fabric but trims, threads and topstitches have Pantone TCX color codes too. If they are all matching with main fabric color, they need to be noted DTM (dye to match) so factory can follow your instruction and avoid rejected sample due to minor mistake." Diep lives in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam and works as a freelance technical fashion designer.