Adapting to Digital Textiles

Bonnie Saland, founder of Philomela Textiles and Wallpaper, says there are five qualities of a print vendor that are “absolutely imperative”: honesty, accountability, professionalism, transparency, and reliability. 

“Designers” – Philomela’s clients – “are not in a position to accommodate late orders or orders that are not done properly. So, it is absolutely critical that I come through,” she adds. And this means it’s absolutely critical that her print partner comes through, as well.

That trusted partner is Adaptive Textiles (West Chester, Pennsylvania), founded in 2004 by Jeanelle Dech, a drapery workroom manager. The shop’s clients are primarily small textile designers and startups who, like Philomela, want to maintain a low-inventory model. Besides an established collection of samples, nothing is printed until an order is placed. Typical runs on Adaptive’s DuPont Artistri pigment ink printer range anywhere from 36 x 11-inch strike-offs to orders of 500 yards or so.