Cindy Hou
Founder
This unadorned white jade pebble necklace has grown against my heartbeat since the day I was born. No intricate carvings or elaborate design, nor was it a rare, valuable piece of jade at the time. I never consciously cherished it, yet somehow my soul learned to breathe through its presence.
Growing up in a jade-carving family dynasty, I watched my parents build their brand from scratch. In youthful rebellion, I shunned jade’s whispered wisdom—until a feverish night revealed its truth. Just before getting sick, I had removed my jade pendant for the first time—purely for aesthetic reasons, thinking it would look better in a photo. Days of persistent high fever left me weak, and I never put the necklace back on.
Strangely, during those few days, I dreamt of it for the first time. In my first dream of jade, I was surrounded by darkness, except for the jade, which glowed brightly. The dream was so vivid that the moment I woke up, I asked my mother to find it for me. It might sound mystical, but the incredible part was that on the very day I put it back on, my condition began to improve like dawn scattering shadows. That’s when I finally understood the old saying:“We nurture jade, and jade nurtures us back.” The greatest guardianship often dwells in what we take for granted.
Now, this seemingly ordinary piece of white jade has accompanied me for 24 years and has long become a part of my being. It is not just a piece of jade but a soul companion, silently witnessing my growth and walking alongside me on my journey. Now I yearn for others to feel jade’s living warmth, to let its veins map their unique odysseys, to discover their own anam cara—the Gaelic ‘soul friend’ hidden in nature’s artistry.
Thus ANAM CARA was born in New York—not as mere sellers of jade, but as story-weavers. Here, every jade pulse awaits its destined heartbeat. Every vein might trace your laughter lines or catch tearstains yet to fall. Like my pendant recording life’s hieroglyphics, these jade become living diaries.
Now, I want to follow in the footsteps of my father, making ANAM CARA a brand that carries the stories between people and jade, a true community that connects jade with people and emotions.
Yuki Qiu
Co-Founder
If you asked me to make a wish upon a Bulgari Serpenti necklace, I probably wouldn’t know what to ask for. Gold and diamonds are undeniably dazzling, but they lack a certain inexplicable spirit. Jade, on the other hand, carries a warmth that metal cannot—a presence that holds stories, answers wishes, and resonates with the soul.
I still remember the first piece of jade I ever received. When I was in elementary school, my father gave me a"fortune bean", also known as a"four-season bean," symbolizing peace throughout the year and prosperity from all directions. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp the meaning behind these auspicious symbols, but I knew one thing—holding that small jade bean in my hand made me feel safe.
Whenever we traveled, I would always take it with me, quietly making wishes upon it, hoping for a smooth and peaceful journey.
At that age, I didn’t truly understand what"spirituality" meant, but I knew that the jade warmed in my palm, as if responding to my thoughts, accompanying me through every road taken, every mile traveled.
As I grew older, that jade bean was somehow lost during a move. And no matter how many other accessories I bought, or how many beautiful jewelry pieces were gifted to me, none of them ever brought back that same feeling—the quiet reassurance of something held in my hand.
That was when I realized—the true value of jade lies not just in its material form, but in the connection it forges with the person who wears it.
Jade does not seek to dazzle. It never rushes to reveal its brilliance.It takes time—time to be worn, time to absorb warmth, time to resonate with its wearer.And in that process, it undergoes not just a physical transformation, but a profound and intimate bond between person and stone.
This deep emotional connection became the very foundation of why we created ANAM CARA.
For me, this journey is not just about building a brand—it is about returning.
Returning to the little girl who once held a jade bean tightly in her palm.
Returning to the warmth that exists between people and jade.
Returning to the emotions that deserve to be cherished, shared, and remembered.
Isabella Qiao
Co-Founder
Jade is not ostentatious, yet it holds a millennium of history within. It carries the weight of Chinese culture and reflects my self-identity.
My grandmother had a jade bangle, and she often said that jade possesses a spirit, bringing protection and peace. As a child, I never quite understood its significance, thinking it was merely an ornament favored by the elderly. But when I left home to study abroad, stepping into a world of unfamiliarity, my grandmother placed the bangle on my wrist and gently said,"It will always be with you." In that moment, I realized that this was more than just jewelry—it was a bond between my bloodline and my country.
Whenever homesickness crept in, I would run my fingers over the smooth jade, as if I could hear the familiar winds of my hometown and catch the scent of home-cooked meals from my family’s kitchen. It was more than a piece of jade; it was a connection across time and space, offering me a sense of belonging in a foreign land.
One day, I shared the story of my jade bangle on social media, not expecting it to resonate with so many people. Countless others had similar experiences—finding solace and connection through a piece of jade, a cherished heirloom, a symbol of home. They, too, longed for a bridge between tradition and modernity. Gradually, I came to realize that jade is not just a personal keepsake but a cultural symbol.
Thus, I decided to join hands with like-minded individuals to create ANAM CARA, hoping to share the warmth and spirit of jade with more people. We are not selling jade; we are telling stories—of heritage, of identity, and of the unbreakable bond that ties wandering souls to the homeland they will never forget.
Kaylee Zhao
Co-Founder