About US

A self-taught seamstress, Jeanelle has always been inspired by textiles. When she was just 8 years-old, she created quilts and doll clothes that were sold through local boutiques. Through high school and later, she designed and constructed costumes for over twenty theatrical productions. The sewing hobby turned into a full-time business in 1995, with the start-up of Crab Apple Farm Interiors, a retail design studio and drapery workroom in West Chester, PA. She enjoyed a loyal following of customers who praised the form-fitting slipcovers, beautifully detailed window treatments, and exceptional customer service. Crab Apple Farm Interiors continues to thrive under the new ownership of a long-time employee.

A high school physics teacher for 17 years, Larry is a gifted and admired educator. With a farming heritage and degrees in engineering and computer science, he possesses a unique blend of traditional and technical skills. His experience ranges from home construction and fine woodworking, to developing interactive, web-based software for use in his classes. His favorite project is the total restoration of his family heirloom 1937 John Deere Model B tractor. As Jeanelle's interior design business grew, Larry contributed by adapting facilities, doing everything from building ergonomically designed worktables, to analyzing and creating more efficient workflow systems.

For Jeanelle and Larry, the entrepreneurial spirit could not be contained. Challenges in the drapery workroom, such as lengthy backorders and limited fabric selection, spawned their pursuit of digital printing for textiles. By the Fall of 2004, they had arranged a team of investors, started a new company, and purchased a DuPontTM Artistri™ 2020, a production-capable digital textile printer employing the newest commercially-available pigment inks. Adaptive Textiles™ was born, offering unprecidented access to on-demand printed textiles.

Today, Jeanelle offers classes on professional slipcover fabrication and window treatment design at the CHF Academy in Charlotte, NC. She is a popular and dynamic speaker at industry trade shows and conferences promoting the new technology and sharing the story of Adaptive Textiles™. Larry manages the daily operations supported by a creative team of graphic designers and seamstresses. He oversees production and printer maintenance, and is often assisted by the Dech's two children, Corynne and Casey. Their staff includes several of Larry's former students, and Jeanelle's former interior designers.

Together, Jeanelle and Larry Dech share the vision of Adaptive Textiles™. They continue the pursuit of the newest technologies in textile printing and incorporate them into the beautiful and efficient design of custom home furnishings. They are committed to the development of new products which make use of the digital flexibility now available. Most importantly, their business makes possible a zero-inventory model for workrooms and independent designers, thus encouraging production and small business growth within the U.S.