You Had Me At Hello, Kitty

I first became smitten with Hello Kitty as a young girl when my neighborhood corner store, Baronet, had a section devoted to her. Every time I visited the store, I beelined to that section, mesmerized by her adorable face, red bow, and colorful and sparkly accessories. Finally, one day, I was ready to make my first Hello Kitty purchase – tiny erasers in cute shapes and a set of matchbook-sized color pencils that fit into a clear plastic case. They meant so much to me, and something about those teeny trinkets stuck with me – I've been a collector ever since!?

What started with a humble coin purse in 1975, today marks Hello Kitty's 50th?birthday as a multi-billion-dollar global empire that has captured people's hearts worldwide, like me. So, how does one little girl actually named Kitty White , born in the suburbs of London in 1974, remain so relevant for half a century? The gravitational pull of one thing: simply being cute!?

The World Meets the Magic of Kawaii?

Hello Kitty is undoubtedly the star of the show, but behind any strong woman is a marketing powerhouse (isn’t that how the saying goes?). Sanrio , the brand that introduced Hello Kitty to the world, has never stopped inserting her bow-adorned ears into pop culture.

From the start, Sanrio positioned Hello Kitty not just as a character but as a lifestyle centered around the concept of kawaii, a Japanese cultural phenomenon that emphasizes cuteness, charm and childlike innocence. The brand focused on creating an emotional connection with young girls at first, which quickly expanded to fans of all ages – making sure we were delighted at seeing a set of fruit-shaped erasers or fuzzy slippers with her face on them. While Hello Kitty has evolved in the last 50 years, everything she’s put her name on, from shoes to theme parks, has been rooted in cuteness – and that consistency has paid off. In a world where things can be heavy, Hello Kitty and kawaii bring us joy!?

A Legend in Her Own Time?

How is Kitty, whose hobbies include "baking cookies and making new friends," ringing in her Golden Jubilee birthday? With a 365-day, 360-degree celebration that you can’t ignore even if you wanted to (but why would you?). She’s made many new friends this year with dozens of fun collaborations.

Nordstrom launched exclusive merch – including the?iconic Stan Smith’s adorned with her face ?– and hosted pretty, pink pop-ups in four stores across the country. UNIQLO and Forever 21 released Hello Kitty collections and Build-A-Bear added a Hello Kitty stuffy . Pottery Barn launched fuzzy home goods from kitty-shaped chairs to bedding, and Universal Studios Hollywood opened its Hello Kitty and Friends Café featuring tiny cakes and pink drinks. And, of course, you can buy Hello Kitty Crocs and carry Hello Kitty bags from LeSportsac , BAGGU , and Stoney Clover Lane . Even luxury brands are celebrating Hello Kitty, such as Baccarat , who crafted a crystal figurine – which you can add to your collection for just $490 (just a slight departure from erasers and $2 gel pens!). Hello Kitty and all her friends even adorned a massive?EVA Air Jet out of Beijing , appropriately named the “Besties” plane.??

The magic of Hello Kitty isn’t just her button nose but her ability to transcend generations and be so universally loved that this expansive collection of brands all decided she was an icon whose 50th?birthday was worth honoring.?She’s also good for business – Hello Kitty is in 130 countries and retail sales for her products hit $5 billion in 2023 alone!

I, of course, couldn’t resist a reason to add to my collection. Though I picked up my newest Hello Kitty plush from the Westchester Mall, I was immediately transported back to Baronet, 7 years old, and rummaging through tiny pencils and mini coin pouches.

Cheers to you, Hello Kitty! May we all aspire to spread a little kawaii and joy in the world.??

Stay fierce (and cute),

Lisa

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