Master Minimalism with Marna Ro

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There must be something in the air, because fantastic new labels have been cropping up in our city like clockwork lately. Our latest example comes in the form of Marna Ro: an LA-based label that you'll be seeing more of very soon. They're set to launch their debut women's and men's collections in stores this June and are prepared to knock the industry's stylish socks off with their slick approach to contemporary sportswear.

The brand's womenswear designer, Pegah Anvarian, gave us a sneak peek of their inaugural fall line, and all we can say is that Rooney Mara would highly approve. Read on for our quick chat with Anvarian to get a feel for this top-secret brand, and stay tuned for Marna Ro's pricing, retailers and official launch date.

What's your fashion design background?
I'm a self-taught designer and have always done my own thing. I learned how to sew when I was seven years old and started making clothes for myself when I was 11. At a very young age I became an assistant fashion stylist, then worked my way up to styling really great jobs solo.

What fashion designers or notables do you look up to?
I love Riccardo Tisci, Azzedine Alaïa, Phoebe Philo, Nicolas Ghesquière, Hedi Slimane, Rick Owens, Alber Elbaz, and Martin Margiela.

Do you work with a team to design Marna Ro?
I design the women's collection and work closely with our pattern maker to execute the perfect fit. We have amazing sewers, a wonderful production manager and a great assistant who supports me and Daniel, our menswear designer. The same goes for the Marna Ro menswear collection—the team works together to create a cohesive look.

What stimulated the brand's debut collection?
The line is really inspired by nature, traveling and global experiences. Marna Ro encompasses some of my personal style but also has a very modern and sophisticated look, reminiscent of European design.

Who are some of Marna Ro's style muses?
We admire strong, fashion-forward women like Charlize Theron, Kate Moss, Rachel Bilson, Emma Stone, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Zooey Deschanel. We also love bloggers like Leandra Medine of The Man Repeller, Garance Doré and Hanneli Mustaparta.
· Marna Ro [Official Site]
· Introducing Cotton Citizen and Their LA Operation [Racked]