Claire Pulignano, a Jacksonville, Florida native, has been designing and sewing since the age of three. Her passion began while assisting her grandmother on a variety of her own pieces. Along with machine stitching, she learned to hand-stitch, cross-stitch, embroider, and knit at a young age. With one week before her junior-year prom, Claire made her first dress with her grandmother by her side. It was the perfect rush and sense of pride that led her to start designing on her own. In May 2007, Claire started her fashion label, Bella Vita, now C. Pulignano.

Claire graduated from the University of Florida in December 2010 with her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Elementary Education and a minor in Business Administration. With much time consumed by school, Claire began designing jewelry to keep her creativity alive. Today, Claire is balancing designing and teaching. While teaching, she markets and sells to individuals as well as local boutiques, including Pink Narcissus in Gainesville and the St. Mark's Bookstore in Jacksonville.