WAILUKU (Hawaii News Now) – One look at Chris Chu and you immediately know he’s extraordinary. Whether it’s his crumpled sneakers, his sparkly jacket or his sleek hair, you know he’s on to something big.
“I always wanted to be a designer because I wanted to be like Tiff,” Chris said.
Chris’ older sister, Tiffany Chu, is a jewelry designer. Her creations have been featured around the world. After living in New York City for a decade, she moved back home to Maui in 2019 to be her brother’s primary caregiver.
“Chris was looking for a job in jewelry, so we started our own business,” says Tiffany.
They started doing pop-ups and selling the jewelry to international visitors at a local hotel.
“They say they’re pretty,” Chris says.
They became so popular, they’re now able to hire more people like Chris – like Nathan and Jonah.
“I’ve seen people with total disabilities go from really high-functioning to really low-functioning, and I’ve seen people with very mild disabilities have trouble finding work,” Tiffany said.
Their first brick and mortar store will soon open in the heart of Wailuku. Just look for the sign “Depo Market” from Market Street.
“Chris was adopted from Cambodia and found at a market called Depot Market,” says Tiffany. “So I thought that was a really special name.”
The Chow siblings hope their business will inspire others to give everyone a chance.
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