Hello Kitty – History, Sanrio Characters & Collectibles
Drawn in 1974 for a coin purse. Fifty years later she is one of the most recognisable designs on the planet – and she is not a cat. Here is the history, the Sanrio characters, and what is worth owning in Hello Kitty collectibles.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
The history: a drawing for a coin purse
In 1974 the designer Yuko Shimizu was working for Sanrio, a Japanese company selling small items with appealing designs on them. She was asked for artwork for a children's coin purse.
She drew a white figure with a red bow. The purse sold immediately. Fifty years later the same drawing appears on thousands of products in every country in the world – and in 2024 it turned fifty.
Why it has lasted: it is among the simplest designs ever made. A few lines, two dots, a bow. It works at any size, on any material, in any colour – and stays recognisable even at the size of a fingernail.
Why she is not a cat
In 2014 Sanrio stated it officially, to widespread surprise: Hello Kitty is not a cat. She is a little girl.
- Her name is Kitty White.
- She lives in the suburbs of London, with her parents.
- She has a twin sister, Mimmy. You tell them apart by the bow: Kitty wears hers on the left ear, Mimmy on the right.
- She has no mouth – deliberately. Sanrio explains that this lets everyone project their own mood onto her: if you are happy she looks happy, if you are sad she looks sad.
That last point is arguably the real reason for her success – and the one design decision no competitor has managed to copy.
The Sanrio characters
Hello Kitty is not alone. Sanrio has created characters that each carry their own substantial following:
The "bad girl" in the black hood – enormous appeal with teenagers.
The pink rabbit in a hood – Kuromi's perpetual rival.
The white puppy with ears large enough to fly with.
The lazy egg – Sanrio's most unexpectedly popular character.
The green frog, one of the oldest in the family.
The twin sister – bow on the right ear.
What is worth collecting
- School gear: the strongest category – backpacks, pencil cases, notebooks. A natural fit for the audience.
- Plush: Hello Kitty, Kuromi, My Melody and Cinnamoroll, in several sizes.
- Figures & Funko POP: for a display shelf.
- Apparel & accessories: t-shirts, pyjamas, jewellery, small bags.
- Homeware: mugs, cushions, decorative pieces.
Gift guide
School gear, a plush, a Hello Kitty t-shirt.
Kuromi or My Melody – both land far better at that age.
Mugs, jewellery, Funko POP, desk items.
Keyrings, mugs, socks, notebooks.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hello Kitty a cat?
- No. Sanrio stated it officially in 2014: she is a little girl called Kitty White who lives in the suburbs of London. The design resembles a cat, but the character is not one.
- Why does Hello Kitty have no mouth?
- It is a deliberate design choice. Sanrio explains that it lets everyone project their own mood onto her – if you are happy she looks happy, if you are sad she looks sad.
- Who is Mimmy?
- Her twin sister. You tell them apart by the bow: Kitty wears hers on the left ear, Mimmy on the right.
- What other Sanrio characters are there?
- Kuromi, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Gudetama, Keroppi and others. Kuromi in particular has enormous appeal with teenagers – often more than Hello Kitty herself.
- Where can I find authentic Hello Kitty products in Thessaloniki?
- At the Techbox store (Al. Papanastasiou 100) and online at techbox.com.gr. You can order online and collect from the store with no shipping cost.
