Pnina Tornai
Episode 12 Pnina Tornai
On episode 12 of Weddings-ish, Fashion designer and TV personality Pnina Tornai is reunited with Jove! They reflect on their last live appearance at Kleinfeld before the pandemic. With a career spanning 30 years in bridal fashion, Pnina has dedicated two decades exclusively to Kleinfeld, where her couture creations have become synonymous with elegance and innovation. Her journey began unexpectedly; originally aspiring to act, she transitioned into bridal design after divorcing her husband in Paris. Despite challenges, she found her calling in making brides feel extraordinary on their big day. Recently, she has gone from being “monogamous’ with Kleinfeld to other stores throughout the nation, although her couture collection is still sold exclusively at Kleinfeld.
Her actual name is Perla, but when she was growing up in Israel, children had difficulty pronouncing it. As a result, her name was changed to "Pnina," which carries the same meaning in Hebrew as her original Spanish name. Pnina holds a deep belief in the unique energy of pearls and their creation process. In Hebrew, her name "Pnina" translates to "pearl," and she named her latest collection for Jared "Perla" as a tribute to her name.
Pnina grew up in Israel with her parents and later moved to France after serving two years in the Israeli army. Fluent in English, French, Hebrew, and Spanish, she adapted easily to life in different countries. Her father's diplomatic career in France led Pnina to join them after completing her military service.
Excited to pursue acting, Pnina enrolled in the Cours Florent in France. However, her first husband discouraged her from pursuing this passion. Despite their differences, they had a child together. During their divorce, Pnina faced the challenge of being separated from her son and needed to support herself. She decided to open a store to make a living. She knew she needed to do something to help women, and ushering them into marriage seemed like the way to make a meaningful mark on their lives.
“My mother used to say when you throw me out of a door I will always come back through the window!”
on her perseverance of her calling
One night, Pnina had a vivid dream of bridal gowns cascading from the sky. Inspired by this vision, she closed her shop for a week and, with the help of a seamstress, started creating her first bridal collection. This marked the beginning of her journey into bridal wear.
She was immediately extremely successful in Israel, but she knew she wanted more. She began to set her sites on New York an specifically Kleinfeld to break into the US market.
Pnina Tornai's path to success at Kleinfeld was marked by determination and resilience. Initially met with skepticism due to her designs being deemed too edgy for the US market, Pnina didn't let rejection deter her. When given the chance by a client to showcase her creations to Kleinfeld's owners, they initially passed on her work. Upset but undeterred, Pnina returned to Israel with a renewed sense of purpose. She meticulously refined her designs to better align with Kleinfeld's expectations and the preferences of American brides. Taking a bold step, she convinced Kleinfeld to carry her dresses for a trial period.
The results were astonishing. Within just a month, Kleinfeld had sold an overwhelming number of Pnina's dresses, exceeding expectations to the point where she had to mobilize every available seamstress in Israel to meet the demand. This pivotal moment not only solidified her partnership with Kleinfeld but also catapulted her into the spotlight as a leading figure in bridal fashion.
Pnina's artistic vision is rooted in love and connection. She believes every bride radiates beauty from within, transcending mere attire. Her designs, imbued with love and attention to detail, reflect her commitment to celebrating each bride's individuality.
Her latest “love” collection is her very own, and she is excited to connect with brides throughout the country. She is showing her first solo collection at bridal fashion week. She is sharing with the world a whopping 53 dresses starting at $2500 dollars. She recommends visiting a trunk show to enjoy 12% off.
Beyond her creative pursuits, Pnina's resilience shines through personal hardships. From overcoming rejection to finding success, she embraces life's challenges like her two divorces with unwavering determination. Her belief in the interconnectedness of humanity echoes in her desire for global unity. She also firmly believes the universe is looking out for her and supporting her knowing that she will give back that love in spades.
She is celebrating 30 years with her husband, and Jove notes her 7 karat ring. Jove talks about his ring and proposal with Pnina who reflects on how far Jove has come since she first met him 5 years ago.
In her candid conversation with Jove, Pnina shares insights into her creative process and the emotional journey of designing for brides. Her ability to transform dreams into reality is matched only by her dedication to personal connections with her clients.
During her conversation with Jove, Pnina shares insights into her creative process and offers advice on choosing the perfect dress. Her ability to transform dreams into reality resonates with her dedication to connecting with brides on a personal level.
Listeners inquire about distinguishing between timeless and outdated wedding attire, prompting a discussion that underscores Pnina's expertise in bridal fashion evolution.
For our final segment, Jove is joined in the studio by our very own team member, Sloan who asks Jove the role of social media content creator for a wedding and how they fit in with existing roles of photographers and videographer.
You can find Pnina’s bridal collection on Pnina Tornai’s website. Her collection at Jared HERE!
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