Behind The Brand: MANG
By Kyle Rossin
Keith and Kyle Rossin, the twins behind the performance wear brand, MANG, in Guanaja. Photo: Rixon Media.
It all started at Vestor Marine Lab in Fort Myers, fishing a stand of red mangroves. Co-founder Kyle Rossin and buddy Chuck thought, How awesome would it be to make a mangrove camouflage that could fund planting mangroves to protect our coastal ecosystems?
One idea led to the next, and MANG's Buy One. Plant One.® initiative was born. Kyle went to his twin brother, Keith, who studied horticulture, and asked if he wanted to grow their own mangroves and plant whole forests across the state of Florida. Keith took to the challenge, propagating MANG®s first mangroves right on their own property and driving the passion behind our planting.
In 2015 MANG® launched its first products-a performance shirt and a single hat-funding our first local mangrove restoration project in North Palm Beach, Florida. As MANG® keeps growing, we're not only planting mangrove forests throughout Florida, we also began planting internationally in 2018 so we can make a positive change for countries and coastlines affected by deforestation and pollution across the globe. Of our ecosystems, but also the education of our future generations. Led by Kyle and Keith personally, MANG partners with school systems and surrounding communities to both educate the next generation of Mini MANGs and lead volunteer planting missions to see the effect of mangrove forests first hand. MAN G's core values of restoration, education, and apparel are helping us propagate change thanks to amazing supporters like you.
One idea led to the next, and MANG's Buy One. Plant One.® initiative was born. Kyle went to his twin brother, Keith, who studied horticulture, and asked if he wanted to grow their own mangroves and plant whole forests across the state of Florida. Keith took to the challenge, propagating MANG®s first mangroves right on their own property and driving the passion behind our planting.
In 2015 MANG® launched its first products-a performance shirt and a single hat-funding our first local mangrove restoration project in North Palm Beach, Florida. As MANG® keeps growing, we're not only planting mangrove forests throughout Florida, we also began planting internationally in 2018 so we can make a positive change for countries and coastlines affected by deforestation and pollution across the globe. Of our ecosystems, but also the education of our future generations. Led by Kyle and Keith personally, MANG partners with school systems and surrounding communities to both educate the next generation of Mini MANGs and lead volunteer planting missions to see the effect of mangrove forests first hand. MAN G's core values of restoration, education, and apparel are helping us propagate change thanks to amazing supporters like you.
Since 2015, MANG® has grown each mangrove by hand for all of our Florida projects. We cultivate our mangroves for two years or more before planting in the wild and water them using fresh salt water to ensure our MANGs are ready for whatever nature throws them.
At MANG®, we believe in educating our followers and the next generation of Mini MANGs about the importance of eco-restoration and preservation. By utilizing our brand as a vessel to deliver knowledge, we can build hope for future generations.
At MANG®, we believe in educating our followers and the next generation of Mini MANGs about the importance of eco-restoration and preservation. By utilizing our brand as a vessel to deliver knowledge, we can build hope for future generations.
377,421 + Mangroves planted in Florida, Madagascar, and The Bahamas since 2015.
Why are mangroves important?
Cleaner Air. Cleaner Oceans. Cleaner Planet.
Cleaner Air. Cleaner Oceans. Cleaner Planet.
Did you know mangroves are the #1 carbon sequestration tree in the world, and habitat to 70% of marine life along our coastlines? Mangroves are a keystone species for our planet, working in tandem with other flora, like seagrass and coral reefs. Mangroves also provide critical habitat for both marine and avian life-acting as a sanctuary for fish sponges, nutrient source for crabs, and a shoreline protector against erosion and storm surge.
What are the major threats to mangroves?
Unfortunately, people often don't understand the critical relationship between mangroves and the local community, and many of the trees that are cut down to make way for coastal housing developments or uprooted and burned for charcoal farming overseas. Other causes include shrimp farming and environmental disasters (i.e. Hurricane Dorian) contribute to the global decline of mangrove habitats.
What is your process of bringing back mangrove populations?
We started MANG with the goal of planting mangroves across Florida to help restore our local communities and preserve this amazing ecosystem for future generations. We never wanted to stop at donating a percentage of sales-we actually wanted to use our scientific knowledge to grow, plant, and lead restoration first hand. So we started a nursery at our West Palm Beach, Florida, headquarters and got to work growing mangroves and planting mangroves in our local community.
MANG has been lucky enough to expand our planting across the globe with other nonprofits, scientific researchers, and community leaders who share our same passion for eco-restoration. Come take a look at where we're planting and how your purchases are literally reshaping these shorelines and preserving local communities.
MANG has been lucky enough to expand our planting across the globe with other nonprofits, scientific researchers, and community leaders who share our same passion for eco-restoration. Come take a look at where we're planting and how your purchases are literally reshaping these shorelines and preserving local communities.
What can people do to help and get involved?
People can support companies and non-profits making a difference .. MANG is just one of them. MANG encourages people to become engaged with their local communities, educate themselves on problems in areas local to them and utilize modern tools like social media to make a difference. Support missions you believe in and giveback to mother nature.
You can see what the MANG bros are up to at @manggear on Instagram and buy perfomance shirts, hats, and more
at MANGGEAR.COM.
at MANGGEAR.COM.