Fashion Collection Development and Launch Checklist

A tech pack is an illustrative blueprint of your garment containing technical drawings, measurements, material specs, and construction details. It serves as your contract with the manufacturer, ensuring they grade sizes accurately and replicate your exact design without guesswork. Without it, factories cannot provide accurate price quotes or produce consistent, high-quality samples.

You should begin developing your collection six to nine months before your target launch date to allow sufficient time for fabric sourcing, sample iterations, and bulk production. For winter lines, development typically starts in January, while spring lines begin their design cycle in June. This timeline provides a safety net for shipping delays and quality adjustments without compromising your launch schedule.

A proto sample is the first physical test of your design concept, often made with substitute fabrics to evaluate drape and silhouette. A fit sample uses the correct fabrics to refine the sizing and pattern adjustments on a live model or dress form. The pre-production sample is the final, perfect version created by the factory using bulk materials to prove they can replicate the design at scale before they turn on the machines.

To determine your viable MOQ, calculate your total budget, target retail price, and fabric roll minimums, then cross-reference these with the factory's minimum requirements per style and colorway. Many boutique factories offer lower MOQs for independent designers, but you will often pay a higher per-unit cost to compensate for the smaller run. Secure these numbers early in the sourcing phase so you do not design garments that are financially impossible to produce.