Designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock met at 17 in their native California before shipping off to Parsons. Ironically, the pair was rejected from their school's senior show-the launching pad for phenoms like Zac Posen and Proenza Schouler-in 2003, so they decided to give it a go on their own. The duo sewed twelve looks on their living-room floor in Brooklyn, and Vena Cava was born in September of that year. Their signature aesthetic takes a fresh spin on vintage mixed with an arty palette and hand-drawn prints, with past collections inspired by japonismo and Egyptian history. In 2006, the brand was awarded an Ecco Domani; back-to-back Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Award nominations followed in 2007 and 2008.