How to Write a Towel Tech-Pack (Free Template)

Most buyers send an RFQ that says something like: looking for 2,000 hotel bath towels, 500 GSM, white, with embroidered logo, please quote. Then they wonder why three suppliers come back with quotes that vary by 40%, and why each supplier is asking different clarification questions. The answer is: the tech-pack was incomplete. The mills are making different assumptions to fill the gaps, and those assumptions explain the price spread.

A complete tech-pack costs about an hour to write once you know the structure, and saves you weeks of back-and-forth across the sourcing cycle. Here is the structure we recommend.

Section 1: Project header

One-page summary at the top that gives any mill an immediate snapshot:

• Project name and a reference code
• Brand name and contact person
• Date issued and quote-back date
• Confidentiality terms (NDA in place? yes/no/will-send)
• Target ship date and destination port
• Indicative annual volume if this is a repeating program

Section 2: Product description

Clear definition of what you are buying. One row per SKU:

• SKU code (your internal naming)
• Product type (bath towel, gym towel, etc.)
• Quantity (this order)
• Forecasted annual quantity (if known)
• Target FOB unit price (optional but useful to share)
• Pack configuration (individual polybag? bundle of X? carton of Y?)

Section 3: Construction spec

The actual fabric specification. Don't leave any of these blank, or the mill will guess.

Variable	Example	Notes
Fiber	100% combed ring-spun cotton	Specify type, not just percent
Origin	Xinjiang long-staple	Optional, can specify region
Yarn count	Ne 32/2 ground, Ne 16/1 pile	Always specify both
Weave	Terry, even-pile	Or specify dobby, jacquard
Pile height	5-6mm	Affects feel and weight
Weight	550 GSM +/- 5%	Always include tolerance
Size	70 x 140 cm +/- 1.5%	Finished size after wash
Color	Pantone 11-0601 TCX	TCX not C (textile not paper)

Section 4: Hem and finishing

The hem and finishing details that get skipped most often, and matter most for longevity:

• Hem style: dobby border (specify width), plain hem, satin band, etc.
• Hem stitching: double-needle, mitered corners
• Thread: polyester core-spun, color-matched
• Stitch density: minimum 9 SPI
• Hangloop: yes/no, location, fabric or satin
• Care label: yes/no, language, position

Section 5: Decoration

Every decoration variable, in one place:

• Method: flat embroidery, 3D puff, sublimation, jacquard, screen print
• Position: bottom-right corner 7cm from hem, hem center, etc.
• Size: width x height in mm
• Colors: thread/ink Pantone references
• Logo file: attach AI/EPS, indicate vector source
• Stitch density (for embroidery): standard or premium

Attach the actual logo file to the tech-pack PDF. Tell the mill what software/format the file is in. Vector files preferred; raster files larger than 1500x1500 px acceptable; phone-camera screenshots not acceptable.

Section 6: Packaging

How the towel arrives at its end destination:

• Individual pack: polybag, kraft band, ribbon, none
• Inner pack: bundles of how many
• Outer carton: dimensions, weight max, your brand mark
• Carton label: barcode, country of origin, batch number, your SKU
• Shipping marks: required format on outer cartons

Section 7: Quality and certifications

• Required certifications: OEKO-TEX Class I/II, GOTS, BSCI, etc.
• AQL inspection level: typically AQL 2.5 (industry standard)
• Color fastness minimum: grade 4+ to washing, light, rubbing
• Shrinkage tolerance: under 7% in length and width
• Pre-shipment inspection: third party (SGS, Bureau Veritas) yes/no
• Test reports required: which ones, per order or per program

Section 8: Commercial terms

• Incoterms: FOB, CIF, DDP, EXW (specify port if FOB)
• Payment terms: typical is 30% TT advance, 70% before shipment
• Sample policy: who pays, how many rounds, lead times
• Pricing validity: typically 30-60 days from quote date
• MOQ acceptance: are you flexible on the listed MOQ

What not to include

Tech-packs go wrong when they include too much, not just too little. Avoid:

• Marketing language about your brand vision (irrelevant to manufacturing)
• Multiple conflicting specs (a 500 GSM and a 600 GSM line, pick one)
• Pantone references in paper format (Pantone C) without TCX equivalents
• Photo references without text specs (mills can't reverse-engineer a photo into a precise spec)
• Aspirational targets without budget reality (asking for Egyptian Giza zero-twist at promotional-towel pricing)

We turn around quotes on complete tech-packs in 24 hours. On vague RFQs we send back our standard clarification questionnaire, which is 14 questions long, and a real quote can take 5-7 business days. A tight tech-pack saves both sides a week of friction.

Download our template

We maintain a free downloadable tech-pack template that covers all the sections above, with example values from a real hotel-bath-towel order. Most of our buyers use it as a starting point and adapt to their brand's conventions. Available on request, just email us or use the form below.