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Israel Pnina Tornai is a celebrated fashion and wedding dress designer, known for her distinctive bridal gowns and media appearances.
Pnina Tornai collaborated with Naturalizer for her first shoe collection, explicitly for bridal and special occasions. The collection was released for spring 2023 and aims to combine couture design with comfort.
Pnina Tornai has had a long-standing partnership with Kleinfeld Bridal, lasting over 20 years. Her designs are exclusively sold at Kleinfeld, where she also has an in-store boutique. Kleinfeld frequently showcases her new collections, such as the Kintsugi Couture Collection 2026, and hosts live events with Tornai.
Pnina Tornai partnered with the bridal e-tailer Azazie to launch her debut bridesmaid collection, 'Pnina Tornai for Azazie.' This collaboration expands Azazie's direct-to-consumer offerings with couture bridal designer input. The license agreement was facilitated by Brandgenuity licensing agency in partnership with A3 Artists Agency.
Pnina Tornai has a partnership with Jared for a jewelry line, which is mentioned in the context of her expanding collaborations beyond bridal attire.
Pnina Tornai was born on November 25, 1962, in Ramat HaSharon, Israel. Her parents, Shaul and Ruth Assis, were of Mizrahi Jewish descent. Tornai completed her high school education and then fulfilled Israel’s mandatory military service. Following this, she pursued an acting career, enrolling in acting school in Paris, France, where she married and had her son, David. Eventually, Tornai returned to Israel with her son and established a small store in Tel Aviv, initially focusing on day and evening gowns.
Tornai’s career in bridal wear began in 1992 when a client requested a wedding dress inspired by an evening gown in her shop window. This custom creation led to a significant turning point in her career. A photograph of the bride in Tornai’s dress appeared on the front page of an Israeli newspaper, generating demand for similar designs. This event prompted Tornai to transform her store into a dedicated wedding dress salon. By 2005, she introduced her designs to Kleinfeld Bridal. Despite an initial rejection for being too unconventional, Tornai revised her designs and successfully introduced her collection to the notable salon. Her designs quickly gained popularity, leading to the establishment of an exclusive Pnina Tornai boutique within Kleinfeld, where she became the top-selling designer within two years. She is currently the only designer with a dedicated in-store boutique at Kleinfeld.
Now based in New York City for two weeks each month, Tornai personally consults with clients and hosts monthly trunk shows. Her creations are sold internationally across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Tornai’s design aesthetic is characterized by body-hugging corsets embellished with Swarovski crystals and precious stones. Her product line has expanded to include footwear, accessories, headpieces, jewelry, and fragrances, all reflecting her couture style. She has also designed evening gowns and kaftans, drawing inspiration from her Moroccan and Egyptian heritage to create specialized lines for religious Jewish and Muslim brides.
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