I recently met up with Kyle from The Regeneration Mag to chat about sustainability - specifically around Richmond, Virginia and what's to come for their 3rd issue. Kyle is a true advocate for sustainability and how we can do that in our lives with inspiration from the resources, facts businesses and individuals out there. His words here are evidence of the passion and knowledge behind this industry that is displayed through the mag's ability to instill encouragement and empowerment to be better for our Earth.

So far, The Regeneration Mag has released 2 issues with its 3rd, coming out April 2018, being focused on the sustainable fashion industry. Check out what Kyle has to say and follow along for what's to come!

How was The Regeneration Mag started?

The Regeneration Publishing was founded in November 2016 as a response to the digitally oversaturated, polarized media climate that surrounded the Presidential election. Discerning accurate, verifiable information on climate change and environmental issues, in particular, had become increasingly difficult, as both the right and the left were guilty of politicizing and obfuscating the problems and the potential solutions to our planet’s environmental woes.
 

What’s your background in the sustainable/eco-friendly industry?

I have been passionate about the environment since I was in high school, leading environmental organizations and challenging myself to take as many science courses as possible. I studied environmental studies and graphic design at American University, and have been trying to push the boundaries of where the two intersect in my work ever since. My passion was also driven by the unsustainability of modern agriculture, which seems to stem from a poor understanding of cause and effect. Without designing with intention we are doomed to cause chain reactions in the complex web of life that is planet earth. 

This problem drove me to want to pursue a masters degree in systems thinking from the School of Visual Arts, called Design for Social Innovation. Since we cannot act in a way that doesn't affect others in some way, I needed to understand systems to address problems fully. We have yet overcome our lack of understanding in the ways our society interacts with an increasingly complex world. After graduating I took a good hard look at the climate movement, to try and understand it's shortcomings in addressing this enormous problem and the ways in which it could be represented through storytelling. 
 

Why do you choose to highlight the businesses or individuals that you do?

In the simplest sense, climate change is the biggest opportunity of the 21st-century to create the kind of society where people and the planet can live in harmony with natural systems, improving the quality of life for everyone. It's a collective problem that has the potential to activate our highest sense of creativity, trying to solve climate change and all the things that contribute to it, by building an inclusive, just economy that is built on businesses that do more than just make money but instead create positive change with every transaction they make. 

By showcasing the personal stories of these creatives, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs, the hope is that by changing the conversation on climate change, this social enterprise will not only give the movement a voice but will inspire its readers to join as well.  

What’s been some of the most impactful information you’ve been given throughout your interviews?

These two things Paul Hawken said to me have really stuck with me:

"I see the science of climate change as a gift, not a curse. Global warming is feedback from the atmosphere. The Earth is a system, and any system that does not incorporate feedback fails." 

"I am not sure hope is a useful emotion. Hope is a condition that depends on fear. If you are not worried or apprehensive about something occurring or not occurring in the future, there is nothing to be hopeful for. In essence, hope is the pretty face of fear, and what we need now is fearlessness, not hopefulness."

What tips would you provide someone who is working towards a more mindful approach to sustainable living?

Being conscious of your own inputs and outputs. It's as simple as being aware of what's called zone 00 in permaculture – the space you occupy every moment of every day. Every interaction you have, from drinking water to eating food is connected to a larger system. When you start to think that way you'll start to see yourself as connected to your body, community, and your footprint. 

In a more practical sense, always have a water bottle, cup, utensils and a napkin/bandana on you and you really can't go wrong. And when in doubt, improvise, and pick up trash in your path. 
 

Your 3rd issue is on the ethics and sustainability behind the fashion industry - what’s something new that you’ve learned?

There is so much potential for good to be created from a regenerative apparel and outfitters industry. One that seeks to be durable and simultaneously flexible, ready to be reintroduced to the product life cycle rather than — like most fashion lines — fleeting. Now more than ever we need to explore regenerative materials and more interconnected ways of doing business so that what we wear and use can be infinitely repurposed or reclaimed as our culture transforms. Things are always tumbling backward and forwards as we look both towards the past and the future for inspiration and trends.

What material will people find when they pick up this 3rd issue?

You'll be taken on a journey through the industry, the problems with it, what's changing, who's leading that change, what companies are doing innovative things with regenerative business models and what the future might look like.

Plus you'll find a free pair of socks if you get the print edition!
 

What other magazines (or resources) have inspired you in this mindful industry?

Dumbo Feather, Ethos Magazine, Another Escape and Offscreen Magazine. I also love Triple Pundit, Fashion Revolution, and Package Free Shop. 
 

If you could choose one thing, what would you like people to know about The Regeneration Mag?

The Regeneration is more than just a magazine, it's a vision for a brighter and more interconnected future, where business can spearhead change and people can work together to regenerate the planet, rather than soil it. 
 

Where can we find you next?

Okeechobee Music Festival, where I'll be doing 2 workshops on regenerative thinking and zero-waste business. After that, I'll have a booth at the Earth Day Event in Union Square on April 15th. 

Follow along to stay updated and inspired @theregenerationmag.