Hi, I'm Chao, and I believe every woman deserves to feel brilliant and elegant, every single day.

FROM SHAOXING TO MARYLAND

Where My Love of Pearls Began

Hi, I'm Chao. I grew up in Shaoxing, China, a city known for its canals and part of a region home to the world’s largest freshwater pearl production and trading center. Pearls were part of everyday life, and that early connection inspired me to make them the heart of Pretty U&Me.

My father is a painter, and my mother is a tailor. That upbringing shaped my belief that beautiful things are made with patience, skill, and love. They taught me to notice the details: a color, a shape, the care that makes something beautiful.

"I want you to find jewelry that feels like you—something you reach for on an ordinary morning and love giving to someone special."

Pretty U&Me was born from that belief. I founded the brand with one mission: to make pearl jewelry accessible, contemporary, and filled with natural elegance — not locked behind the glass of a fine jewelry store, but held in your hand, worn to brunch, worn to the farmers market, worn because Tuesday deserves beauty too.

I hope Pretty U&Me brings a little beauty to your day and helps you feel effortlessly elegant.

OUR BEGINNING · 2023

A Dream Rooted in Family

I came to the United States for my master’s degree and went on to build a career as a data engineer.  But the idea of starting a jewelry business stayed with me for years.

Becoming a mother gave me the motivation to finally begin. My parents had immigrated to the United States, and I wanted to create opportunities for them to contribute their skills and earn an income despite the language barrier.

We began at the Sykesville Farmers Market. One conversation, one pair of earrings, and one returning customer at a time, Pretty U&Me grew through those connections. Today, you can find us online, at markets, and in six retail shops across Maryland. 

One of the most rewarding parts is seeing customers return to choose gifts after finding a piece they love for themselves. Whether you discover us in person or from across the country, I hope you find something that feels just as personal.

SEE OUR STORES & MARKETS ↗

BEAUTY THAT GIVES BACK

Give Back to the Bay

Our love of nature extends to the place we call home. Since 2024, Giving Back to the Bay has supported the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s work to restore oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, an estuary along America’s East Coast.

Across 2024 and 2025, we donated a total of $700, helping support the planting of 70,000 oysters. 

For every pair of earrings sold in October and November each year, we donate $1. Wherever you’re shopping from, you’re part of that contribution.

2026 Campaign

FOR YOU. FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE.

Thank you for being here.

Whether we meet at a market or you discover us online, thank you for making room for Pretty U&Me in your everyday life.

FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE ↗VISIT US IN PERSON