How Hello Kitty Became a Worldwide Icon

Originally created in Japan in 1974, Hello Kitty is now a worldwide pop culture icon. She's been on 50,000 products in over 60 countries. She's been a starring character in official branded wines, jewelry, and household appliances. She's also teamed up with Barbie and Freshly Picked.

When Sanrio created Hello Kitty, the company had a clear vision of how they wanted her to be seen. They believed that she should be a friend and an ambassador for the company. They wanted to encourage friendship and a sense of caring and sharing throughout the world.

The company hired a team of cartoonists to develop cute characters. They wanted to find a way to make Kitty stand out from the crowd.

The first Hello Kitty product was a vinyl coin purse designed for little girls. Later, the company began selling rubber sandals with flowers painted on them. The company has since expanded its product lines to include jewelry, electronics, and other large-ticket items.

In 2000, the company began to study the international market. They decided to hire Yamaguchi to take Hello Kitty in a new direction. She was able to look at the character objectively and was able to create new designs.

According to Sanrio, the company's motto is "social communication." In other words, they want Hello Kitty to be a friend and an ambassador for the brand. They also say that Kitty speaks from the heart.

The Japanese word for "hello" is kawaii, which translates as "cute". It's used to highlight charming aspects of animals and objects.