Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasey Riley.
Hi Kasey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We founded The Fat Plant Society ten years ago out of a sincere love of plants and all things green. The Fat Plant Society grew out of a return to our roots in Copenhagen in 2015. We decided to turn what we love, admire, and are inspired by into a business that would not only enhance the beauty of a space but also the wellness of those who inhabit it.
The “Society” we have formed reflects our values, our travels, our need for community, and our sincere belief in and love of the real (maintenance-free) moss and biophilic designs we create for our clients, and that nature inside is crucial for wellbeing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think any business owner, large or small, has not faced struggles. I think it is how one mentally frames those struggles that is crucial. Educating our clients and the general public about the ease of implementing moss designs and how important having vertical greenery in view is an ongoing challenge. There is actually a somewhat steep learning curve to the general term “green walls,” and we work diligently to explain the difference between living plant walls and moss walls. Living plant walls require maintenance, while real moss walls do not, and we continue to work to educate folks about the differences without ever denigrating living plants and living plant walls. Living plant walls are beautiful and provide many benefits, so it really boils down to a client’s available budget and time for maintaining an installation.
The maintenance of living plant walls runs roughly $1500-$3000 per month (on the low end), whereas moss walls do not require ongoing maintenance, yet they retain their color and beauty for at least ten years, likely longer.
So we embrace every opportunity to educate clients and prospective clients on the numerous benefits of moss walls and designs. From attention restoration to dampening noise, the benefits of a moss wall provide a remarkable return on investment. And that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our American grown and harvested moss. Moss is truly a miraculous form of plant life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Fat Plant Society’s design style is rather unique compared to other biophilic design companies.
We specialize exclusively in real moss as a design material because of its countless benefits and its durability.
We are also very intentional about our moss designs compared to other companies that work with real moss in that we utilize a Danish Design ethos that places nature itself at the center stage.
We do not mix moss varieties very often, as the greens are too far apart on the color scale to be visually attractive, and we do not incorporate any hanging elements.
Since biophilic design rests upon the healing and restorative effects of nature, we work to create designs that mimic nature, and because of that, our designs are timeless in style.
But that does not mean we are simply placing moss haphazardly in a frame. We implement a careful tonal gradient in our designs that ensures the installation will interact dynamically with its environment. Each bespoke design includes careful consideration of The Light Dial: The visual character of the piece that shifts according to the time of day.
The designs respond fluidly to the cool temperatures of natural morning light and the warm glow of evening artificial lighting, which reveal different textures and shadows as the sun moves.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Yes. Grow slowly and with intention.
And be ethical.
It pays off in the long run.
We have had more than one opportunity to create a large piece or wall that simply would not work in a given environment. For example, a vestibule or entryway that is too cold is going to be hard on the moss, and regardless of the revenue, we have had to advise clients against it.
We have also made the conscientious decision to source our moss exclusively in the United States, despite being able to source moss at a lower cost in other countries. At the time, we did so because we wanted to “walk the talk” about sustainability, but as it turns out, that decision has also made us “tariff-proof.”
One never goes wrong in choosing ethics (and people) over profits.
Pricing:
- The Skinny Panel: just $300 per panel, one can receive a piece of organic art that will last longer than most furnishings.
- Our moss runs $120 per square foot, including the frame. We have barely increased our costs in our decade of business and we believe wholeheartedly in transparency. We include the frame for a reason: unframed pieces look unfinished and the frame protects the moss and enables it to be moved if need be, without damage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fatplantsociety.com/
- Instagram: @thefatplantsociety
- Facebook: @thefatplantsociety
- LinkedIn: The Fat Plant Society
- Twitter: @thefatplantsociety
- Youtube: @thefatplantsociety
