Hello Kitty Superfans Are Still Going Strong
glamour.com, is high up on the list. Which brings us back to the dance party in question.“It’s basically a rave but Hello Kitty makes an appearance and they have graphics of her DJ-ing, and things like that,” says , 28, explaining this is just one of many ways the cartoon’s legions of mega-fans celebrate her IRL. “You do have to be over 21 to join, but there’s this wholesome [aspect] of Hello Kitty just having a good time and shaking some ass, you know?”Honestly, I don’t know.
But once you start paying attention, her charming mouthless face and little red bow are omnipresent—especially this summer, which marks the 50th anniversary of her debut.
She’s the star of a new collaboration with Forever21, and featured on limited-edition Baggu print bags and laptop cases. Punky cult-favorite label Chopova Lowena is offering an entire line centered around her likeness at Nordstrom; beloved ice cream chain Van Leeuwen has been peddling pints of a Hello Kitty-themed flavor with berries and white chocolate truffle. (Which sadly, at least at my nearest Brooklyn outpost, appears to be sold out.)SanrioUrban Outfitters“We have been strategically licensing Hello Kitty for several decades with a wide range of products that are chosen with a constant focus on both her existing fans as well as the next generation of fans,” Jill Koch, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management at Sanrio Inc., tells me via email. “We’re always keeping an eye on brands, products, and partners that will surprise and delight her fans to keep the love of Hello Kitty growing and evolving.”This strategy is clearly working.
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