Vena Cava is said to be on the verge of collapse because of lack of funding. The company, founded by designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock in 2003, “was in the final stages of negotiating a deal with an unnamed investor when talks broke down,” reports WWD. Sources have said that the label won’t last much longer unless a partner or angel investor swoops in.
This is sad but hardly surprising news. Vena Cava didn’t show this past September, instead holding a presentation for friends and family and releasing a look book afterward. Meanwhile, their past few collections have received mixed — if not outright negative — reviews. The Barneys website currently offers only one item by the label — a black dress marked down by over 50 percent. Saks, on the other hand, has a wider selection of twelve items, only a few of which are on sale; Opening Ceremony’s website offers a healthy assortment as well. Hopefully holiday sales will prove strong and a new investor will help the company sort things out.