By Rachael Lindley
Photography by Jill Johnson
Long before RoRo Designs found its way onto Fort Worth tables and into thoughtfully wrapped hostess gifts, it began with friendship.
Amanda Peterson and Kathleen Fraser met as freshmen at TCU while rushing Tri Delta. Their connection quickly deepened into something enduring. They became roommates, classmates, and eventually, constants in one another’s lives. “We were in so many of the same classes,” Fraser recalls. “We both studied business, even though we weren’t entirely sure what we wanted to do with it yet. It just felt like the right path at the time.”
Their lives unfolded in parallel. After graduation, Peterson stayed in Fort Worth while Fraser moved to Dallas. Marriages followed. Then children — four each, in a twist of fate that still feels uncanny to them both.
“We were always pregnant around the same time,” Peterson says, laughing. “And none of it was planned. People ask us that all the time. It’s just how our lives have always lined up.”
It was during one of those overlapping seasons, both women expecting their fourth child, that the idea for a business began to take shape. Fraser was living in Philadelphia at the time when Peterson and a group of close companions traveled north to surprise her for her birthday. Somewhere between the celebration and the quiet conversations that come with big life transitions, the question surfaced: What are we doing next?
“We were about to each have our fourth babies and just thinking — what now?” Fraser says. “We wanted to build something, but we wanted to do it together.”
Like many early-stage ideas, the concept evolved through trial and error. Their first foray was a candid, humorous Instagram account called Trends and Tantrums, where they shared everything from fashion finds to the less glamorous realities of motherhood. “It was real — clothes one minute, kids having accidents the next,” Peterson says. “But it was exhausting. We realized pretty quickly we didn’t love being the face of something like that.”
From there, they pivoted to jewelry, launching their first collection in 2023. It was a natural starting point using their creative outlet and passion for aesthetics. But even as they built the jewelry side of the business, the pair’s conversation kept returning to another shared passion: the home.
“We were constantly sending each other photos of things we’d find — bowls, table settings, little design details,” Fraser says. “At some point, we were like, why are we doing jewelry when what we really love is home?”
That realization marked a turning point. After experimenting with materials and navigating the practical challenges of production, they discovered resin, a material that offers both flexibility and originality. Unlike large-scale manufacturing, resin enabled them to start small, creating handmade, design-forward pieces without the burden of massive inventory.
It wasn’t without its hurdles. Resin can be delicate, and the pieces are handcrafted in India, which introduces complexities in shipping, customs, and tariffs.
“The rise in tariffs took place when our first large shipment came in,” Peterson says. “It was discouraging. We were asking ourselves how we were going to make it work.”
They kept going.
That persistence paid off. Today, their resin pieces include distinctive large bowls, serving utensils, candy dishes and trays often accented with sculptural details. The vibrant and functional decor has become the brand’s signature.
“When people see our products, they’re struck by how different they are,” Peterson says. “Not only are they functional — they’re conversation pieces.”
The same philosophy extends to their broader collection, which includes wipeable placemats designed in collaboration with artists, linens, and a carefully edited selection of accessories. Over time, they’ve refined their approach, moving away from a general gift-shop model to focus exclusively on their own designs.
“We realized pretty quickly that the pieces we created ourselves were what people were drawn to,” Fraser says. “So we leaned into that.”
Even the company’s name reflects the brand’s deeply personal nature. RoRo Designs is named after their youngest daughters, both affectionately nicknamed “RoRo” by their siblings.
“We were on the phone one day and heard both of our kids call out ‘RoRo’ at the same time,” Peterson says. “And we just knew. That was it.”
That instinct to follow what feels natural, meaningful, and aligned has guided RoRo Designs from the beginning. It’s evident not only in their designs, but in the way they’ve structured their work around family life.
Balancing a growing business with eight children between them is, as Fraser and Peterson admit, “not easy.” Logistics alone can be daunting with travel, childcare and the constant negotiation of time. But it’s also shaped their perspective in a way that feels foundational.
“We’ve always said family comes first,” Peterson says. “That’s part of why we wanted to build something of our own — to have that flexibility and not miss the important moments.”
Motherhood also informs their product line in subtle but significant ways. Their wipeable placemats, for example, were born out of a simple desire: to create a beautiful table that could withstand real life.
“We want things to be pretty, but also practical,” Fraser says. “Our kids are basically our product testers.”
The balance between form and function, beauty and livability, fully defines the brand’s aesthetic. While the two founders have distinct personal styles, they share a love of color, texture and pieces that feel both joyful and elevated.
“It’s never just a bowl,” Peterson says. “It’s something that makes a statement, something that brings you a little bit of joy when you see it.”
Looking ahead, RoRo Designs is poised for growth. New resin colors and product categories are on the horizon, along with expanded collaborations and a push into wholesale markets nationwide. Customers can also shop their website at shoprorodesigns.com.
But for all its momentum, the heart of the business remains unchanged.
“At the end of the day, it’s about doing something together,” Peterson says. “It’s about friendship. It’s about having someone to walk through life with, especially in these busy, sometimes overwhelming seasons.”
RoRo Designs has grown into a reflection of a shared life, one built on parallel paths, creative instincts, and the kind of friendship that turns an idea into something lasting.