THE HELLO KITTY WORLD: How It Began
Introduction of Hello Kitty
‘Tsuji began hiring cartoonists to develop an original range of character-based merchandise. One such cartoonist was Yuko Shimizu, who created Hello Kitty, a little girl who looks like a white cat with two eyes and a yellow nose.
Famously, Hello Kitty has no mouth because she “speaks directly from the heart”. Released in 1974, the first Hello Kitty product was a transparent coin purse featuring her image, a glass bottle of milk, and a fishbowl.
The Next Step
Two years later, Hello Kitty was launched in the United States. Quickly, the simple character became a global phenomenon. To this day, Hello Kitty continues to be the brand’s most popular and profitable character. Today, there are more than 100 Sanrio boutiques throughout Japan, and Sanrio goods are sold in over 15,000 U.S. retail locations.’
The Latest Branding
Look ahead to seasonal produce with Hello Kitty, dressed here as a Tomato, Bell Pepper, and Eggplant!
Coming in May to Flushing NY
