Today we’d like to introduce you to Nigar Fatali.
Hi Nigar, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Mosstique started in our tiny one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, NY.
In a desperate attempt to offset the stresses of a corporate sales job and raising a toddler in the city, I was experimenting with preserved moss as a way to pick up a calming hobby. As we started running out of space, I decided to try out Etsy entirely sure my moss frames wouldn’t sell. It took off immediately and turned into something much bigger – so fast, that my husband Dennis had to jump in to help out with the production. In no time almost without realizing it, we had built the foundation of a family business.
Dennis grew up in Germany, where a connection to nature and an appreciation for quality craftsmanship are part of everyday life. That sensibility deeply influences how we work – being intentional with materials and honoring the handmade process. I come from Azerbaijan, where I grew up surrounded by a rich and diverse artistic culture. The mix of traditions, patterns, and expressive design there shaped how I see art and storytelling.
As Mosstique grew, we made the decision to pick up our entire lives and move to Austin, Texas in 2021. It felt like the right place – not just creatively, but personally. Austin’s openness, creative energy, and closeness to nature made it an ideal environment to grow our work and raise our family. Today, Mosstique reflects all of that: our backgrounds, our shared values, and our belief that nature, design, and family can coexist beautifully.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. Like many small businesses, we learned as we went – but in our case, we were also working with a relatively new medium. There were no classes in moss art. When I first started experimenting, I found a single YouTube video that demonstrated a basic moss application technique. That, along with countless hot glue gun burns, was my education.
In the early days, space was a constant challenge. We were building a brand out of a one-bedroom apartment, figuring things out in real time. Later, moving across the country with a young family while keeping the business alive brought an entirely new set of uncertainties. Then came inflation and tariffs, which affected our customers and suppliers – and inevitably, us as well.
We worked constantly. Dennis had a couple of near-serious table saw injuries. Just one week after giving birth to my second child, I was back on my feet applying flowers to an order that was due to ship – something I neither recommend nor glorify.
We also had unhappy customers and a few returns. But we made a conscious decision to treat every negative review as a learning opportunity and a chance to improve. There were – and still are – many moments of exhaustion and doubt, especially while balancing parenthood, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Each challenge pushed us to become more intentional: about our time, our values, and the kind of work we want to create.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What do you do, and what do you specialize in?
At Mosstique, we create handcrafted moss art and custom green wall installations using preserved moss and dried flowers. Our work sits at the intersection of nature and design – sculptural, textural pieces that bring the feeling of the outdoors inside without the need for water or sunlight. We specialize in bespoke work, collaborating closely with clients to create pieces that feel intentional, timeless, and deeply connected to the space they inhabit.
What are you most known for?
We’re best known for our vibrant moss walls and statement pieces that blend organic materials with vibrant colors and clean, modern design. Each piece is made by hand, and no two are ever exactly the same. Clients often tell us that our work doesn’t just decorate a space – it changes how it feels. That sense of calm and grounding is something we’re very intentional about.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the fact that Mosstique is a true family business that we built from the ground up without losing its soul. We’ve stayed hands-on, values-driven, and deeply involved in every piece we create. Building something meaningful while raising a family – and doing it together – feels like a rare and very personal achievement.
What sets Mosstique apart from others?
What sets us apart is the combination of backgrounds, perspectives, and care that goes into our work. Dennis brings a deep respect for craftsmanship and material quality, while my own background in a culturally rich artistic environment shapes how we approach composition and storytelling. We don’t mass-produce or outsource; we design thoughtfully, work meticulously, create locally and treat each project as a collaboration. For us, moss isn’t just a material – it’s a medium for creating lasting, living-feeling art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think luck has played a role, but not in the way people often imagine.
We were fortunate to find moss as a medium at the right moment, before it became widely known, and to connect with customers who were willing to trust our creative abilities with two listings and barely any reviews.
We were also lucky to have each other – building this as partners made it possible to take risks that would have felt overwhelming alone. Not to mention, our superpowers that complement each other. I could never imagine doing what Dennis does and vice versa.
At the same time, there was plenty of so-called “bad luck”: injuries, timing challenges, economic shifts, and moments where everything felt fragile. But I’ve learned that what looks like bad luck is often a necessary down time that forces you to adapt, learn, and clarify your values. In that sense, both good and bad luck shaped Mosstique – not by defining the outcome, but by testing how committed we were to continuing.
Pricing:
- Frames that vary from $40 to thousands of dollars
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mosstique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosstiqueshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosstiqueshop
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosstiqueShop
Image Credits
1. Nigar working at her home-studio
2. One of Mosstique’s moss wall installations at a private residence in West Austin
3. The set of hexagons finished a week after the birth of our son
4. Dennis working on a ceiling piece at Arete Kitchens showroom in South Austin
5. Custom moss wall with incorporated logo at Healing Tooth dental office in North Austin
6. Sculptural moss piece with a custom mirror acrylic panel inspired by traditional Middle Eastern pattern designs
7. Framed moss bouquet in blue
8. Mosstique’s signature rainbow moss frames
