We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kasey Riley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kasey below.

Kasey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

One of our favorite aspects of our work is learning more about biophilic design in the workplace environment and how it impacts productivity, creativity, well-being, and ultimately, the bottom line.

Real greenery in interiors creates a more inclusive workplace as it supports neurodiversity. There are numerous design opportunities that create more positive experiences for neurodivergent team members but real nature in view has a significant impact–on all of our well-being.

The science behind nature and attention restoration actually dates back to the 1980s when psychologists Kaplan and Kaplan developed the concept of ART (Attention Restoration Theory) that asserts mental fatigue is reduced and concentration is enhanced when we look up from a task and see real nature. (Kaplan 1989, 1995)

We like to believe that everyone loves greenery in interior settings so when we discovered the versatility and sturdiness of real, dormant moss, we fell in love with it as a design material. The Fat Plant Society moss does not need any watering or misting so it is wonderfully sustainable. And the more research we conducted, the more we learned about how moss and other types of greenery impact our mental and emotional capacity in extreme and positive ways.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Morten and I (Kasey) founded The Fat Plant Society in 2016 and we began building green walls and vertical green designs with sustainable succulents. But the reality, in the Midwest region, is that real, dormant moss is much sturdier, more versatile, and maintenance-free compared to the succulent designs we were creating.

We are providing architects, designers, and contractors with a sustainable and less expensive option for including a green wall in a design plan. Real moss does not require a dirt substrate, an internal watering system, or water at all making it a much more appealing green wall solution for many architects and designers.
To be clear, we love all things green and we always gasp in awe at living plant walls but living plant walls do require water and maintenance, and removing those two things from the discussion tends to enable architects and contractors to breathe easier.

Additionally, we source our moss in the United States and we have found that American moss is sturdier, comes in larger pieces (which is brilliant for design), and does not need to be shipped from overseas. Our clients for whom sustainable practices are paramount love that the moss is grown and harvested in the USA as it reduces their carbon footprint.

We create moss designs that run from full walls (in excess of 30 feet) and smaller pieces (2 feet by 2 feet) that may feature a logo or other branding for commercial spaces. We also do residential projects and have installed framed pieces as well as pieces that were built into the design plan for a new residence.

The Fat Plant Society is one of very few design studios focusing solely on moss and other sustainable plants. One of the aspects of the business that we pride ourselves on is the relationships we build and the way we communicate with all our clients. We communicate directly and frequently and we prefer to communicate with every one of our clients about the project they have in mind so we can share the lessons we have learned (through experience) and ensure we are delivering the best possible solution and design.

The importance of relationships and transparency permeates everything we do. The name, The Fat Plant Society, was born out of the notion of inclusion. Just by virtue of loving nature, you are a member of The Fat Plant Society,

What sets us apart from other moss and plant designers is the Danish Design focus. Morten was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, and simplicity, minimalism, and functionality of Danish Design are key aspects of our designs. We work to create pieces that align with the ecology of the space and timeless designs that do not overwhelm–but are quietly green and soothing to the eye.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

The story of how we met dates back more than 25 years. We met on vacation in Malaysia back in 1997. I was living and working in Beijing, China, and had taken a short vacation after Christmas. Morten was on vacation with a Danish friend of his. We were essentially “set up” as the “friends of friends” on the trip. Fortunately, we got along so well that Morten asked me to marry him within the first 24 hours of our meeting. I laughed at the time but by the end of July of 1997 we were married and we celebrated our silver anniversary last summer.

As for the working relationship, that has been long and abiding as well. We have worked for many organizations together (in differing capacities) so the notion of working together and for ourselves simply made sense to us.

We handle some aspects of the work together and some separately and to use a cliche, it is truly a “labor of love.”

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

We most definitely manufacture our own products and as biophlilic design and green walls are still a relatively new concept to many, we have not only taught ourselves about the versatility and utility of real moss designs but our clients as well.

We searched for the right moss vendor as our list of “specs” was long and we feel so fortunate to have found a moss vendor who has been willing to teach us about his process along the way.

We also credit our friends and collaborators with how we got started. We have been so fortunate to have connected with other business owners in Kansas City and we feel “Kansas City Kindness” each and every day.

From our framing partner at Picture and Frame Industries to our friends at HKN Design and Deluxe Lighting and Electric, we have collaborated and created new products from specialized, one-of-a-kind frames to lighting fixtures to the beautiful biophilic mirrors that HKN Design handcrafts and adorns with our moss.

We have learned that collaboration, more often than not, enhances the final product. We have learned that there is no shame in trial and error. We have also learned that doing something truly new and utilizing moss in new ways (such as hanging panels and ceiling panels) may be scary but well worth the emotional and physical energy.

We also keep our eye on what’s coming—what new and sustainable product (like mycelium also known as mushrooms) we may be able to utilize as a biophilic design material.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thefatplantsociety.com
• Instagram: @thefatp[antsociety
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFatPlantSociety/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fat-plant-society/?viewAsMember=true

Image Credits
All photos were taken by Kasey L Riley or Morten Klinte. They are labeled with the location/company name.