Sydney Rose and Ashley Munns are the charming design duo behind San Francisco based RosenMunns, a label garnering a lot of attention for their SS'10 collection titled "Year of the RosenMunns".

Paper-Doll.com: How did you get into fashion design?
Sydney ROSE: Thanks Mom.

Ashley MUNNS: Thanks Syd

What is the first thing you designed (personally or professionally)?
ROSE: Probably something ugly – The first thing I remember cutting and sewing myself was a puffy bag I made with when I was 7. It was batting-backed white jersey cotton with big primary colored polka-dots on it.

MUNNS: When I was in 6th grade I had cosmetic ear surgery that required me to wear bandages over my ears for two weeks so my mom and I made headbands to match my favorite outfits.

When did you launch your own label?
ROSE: Fall 2007

MUNNS: Fall 2007

What inspires you / your work?
ROSE: I was watching RuPaul on the Bonnie Hunt show yesterday and she was talking about how drag is everything and how we are all born naked and the rest is drag and she sort of defined drag as whatever you put forth after you get out of the shower. She went on to say that we are all really just playing roles everyday and that some people understand this and the rest actually believe they are the role they play. I just found it to be so pure and was really inspired by Ru’s clarity. I sort of have my hands in many pools of interest so when people are living every breath so uninterrupted and to the extreme I think I can learn a great deal from them.

MUNNS: The ability to recreate and reinvent yourself. Sincere people who believe in you, are real with you, and make you laugh. I get off on really high and positive energy levels. I love that feeling of being in a room with someone and thinking you might just explode. I think my best ideas have come from near spontaneous combustion.

Describe your SS’10 Collection.
ROSE: A rowdy homage to Chinatown SF

MUNNS: Rollercoaster of Love. This particular collection turns my stomach, it is so dreamy. The day we shot our lookbook is how i will always remember it. It was blindingly sunny and somehow felt so calm, though we were totally hustling in the middle of the most colorful, busy part of San Francisco. The memory of this day evokes the same feelings I had when I was in junior high and would hang out in the rundown beach towns in Florida. It is all a big, sunny, salty, fleshy mirage of a memory involving 7-11 parking lots and lots of outrageous music. When times stands still but emotions run high. It was the coming of age for me. I feel like this collection has been that for us, as a label, to some extent.

What is your favourite piece from your SS’10 Collection?
ROSE: I think the red stretch velvet cord shorts – and the sparkly red button-ups.

MUNNS: The blue shorts with the white stretch velvet muscle tank. The blue one peice jumper. The metallic blue floral top.

Did you have a personal soundtrack or a favourite album that you listened to while working on SS’10?
ROSE: Not really, but we put a little mix together afterward – head bangers, chilli peppers, steady-rockers, and dingle-hoppers.

MUNNS: One Inch Punch, Butthole Surfers.....basically for me, during that time, it was the entire 1996 Romeo and Juliet soundtrack.

What area of your work do you enjoy the most?
ROSE: Design – Especially editing all of our ideas down and then expanding just the few ideas as we go. This process is more noticeably enjoyable and fulfilling after the fact.

MUNNS: The process of taking abstract, intangible feelings and evolving them into fabrics and colors, shapes and stories.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
ROSE: The obviously cyclical nature of the biz gets hard on a personal and professional level.

MUNNS: Making it personal without taking it personal.

What is the most surprising thing that has happened to you as a designer?
ROSE: Industry politics continue to surprise and confuse…

MUNNS: It blows my mind that people think our designs are that "out there" when there are people walking around all over the place wearing the word "juicy" on their butts.

If you could collaborate with any designer / artist / musician / etc. on a single project, who would it be and what would you do?
ROSE: Sort of a humdrum answer, but I think Picasso. We might make abstract prosthetic facial features and stick them on each other.

MUNNS: It would involve Vivienne Westwood's hair color specialist and Macaulay Culkin. We'd paint the town orange or something. Oh and for sure Die Antwoord to rap about it the whole time.

If you could design a wardrobe for any one person (past/present/real/fictional), who would it be?
ROSE: Penny from the Inspector Gadget cartoons.

MUNNS: Sydney Rose

If you could design a wardrobe for any one person (past/present/real/fictional), who would it be?
ROSE: Penny from the Inspector Gadget cartoons.

MUNNS: Sydney Rose

How would you describe your own personal style?
ROSE: sweats

MUNNS: yesterday-Sporty Spice, today-Disney's Fantasia tomorrow-maybe Bad Blake from Crazy Heart and the day after that-T.B.D.

What is your favourite item in your personal wardrobe?
ROSE: The psychedelic wood-grain dress from our upcoming FW2010 collection.

MUNNS: The crazy crazy sweatpants from our upcoming collection. And an old gap kids dress that Syd got me. It is magical.

Where do you shop for clothes when you're not wearing your own?
ROSE: Thrift stores

MUNNS: I have gotten really good at shopping my closet. And Syd's closet.

What is on your current fashion wishlist?
ROSE: Custom clogs from No. 6 store

MUNNS: The Giles Kitten Sunglasses in every color. And I'm still looking for that perfect pair of Givenchyesque jeans.

What fashion trend would you not be caught dead in?
ROSE: Never say never. Second thought - Boyfriend jeans.

MUNNS: Twitter- I’m afraid it would just push me right over the edge.

What is the one item that every woman should have in her closet?
ROSE: Something RosenMunns - And good socks.

MUNNS: Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue.

What is your favourite thing about the city you live in?
ROSE: San Francisco is a visual masterpiece and a virtual playground.

MUNNS: The green hills and the colorful people. It is so Teletubbies here it is insane, but a little rough around the edges.

If you couldn’t be a fashion designer, what other area of interest would you like to explore?
ROSE: Architecture, art, collectibles, gardening – All at once on a ranch in Wyoming.

MUNNS: I would probably be the grounds keeper of my parent's cattle ranch in Florida, or touring with my friend Rian who is leading a movement called Teen Suicide.

What is next for your label?
ROSE: International sales.

visit: RosenMunns