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Tag: Sanrio

Primark Unveils Collaboration with Hello Kitty to Mark 50 Years of the Iconic Character

Posted on by Eleonora Cerioli

  • The exclusive collection features over 100 items across clothing, accessories and homeware.

  • New Hello Kitty Café is set to launch in select Primark locations across the UK this month.

Primark, the international fashion retailer, has teamed up with Sanrio to unveil a new collection inspired by Hello Kitty. The collection is part of a new strategic partnership between Primark and Sanrio and celebrates 50 years of the pop culture icon. Featuring over 100 items across womenswear, kidswear and homeware, the entire range embodies the timeless charm of Hello Kitty, that all generations know and love.  

From cosy loungewear to playful accessories, each piece of the extensive range is infused with the signature kawaii style of the beloved character. With trendy graphic tees, adorable nightwear, collectable bags, and much more, the collection promises to immerse customers in the magic and nostalgia of Hello Kitty. Prices start at just £1/€1.50 for accessories, up to £25/€30, as part of Primark’s commitment to providing affordable choices for everyone.  

To celebrate the collection, Primark has also announced the launch of the Hello Kitty Café in select locations across the UK. Customers in Primark’s Birmingham, Manchester Market Street, Manchester Trafford, Edinburgh and Braehead stores will have the opportunity to be immersed into the vibrant world of Hello Kitty. From now until June, the cafés featuring Instagram-worthy décor will serve up an array of limited-edition treats inspired by Hello Kitty, such as sweet waffles and savoury ‘bow’ buns, alongside themed beverages including a choice of bubble teas and shakes.

Sarah Jackson, Director of Licensing, Primark said: “Hello Kitty has been a cultural phenomenon since her debut in 1974, captivating hearts around the globe with her cute aesthetic. At Primark, we pride ourselves on our extensive license offering and we’re thrilled to reveal our new collection, marking another exciting chapter in Hello Kitty’s enduring legacy. We want to offer our customers an unforgettable in-store experience and we’re delighted to once again transform our Primarket cafés into a Hello Kitty haven in five locations across the UK.”

Silvia Figini, Chief Operating Officer, Sanrio EMEA, India and Oceania, Mr Men – Worldwide, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Primark on this new collection to celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary. Over five decades, she has inspired all generations with her core values: kindness and friendship. We are glad to celebrate this important milestone together with our whole community. This will happen also thanks to this collection, which will offer unique fashion items featuring our iconic character, bringing joy to Primark customers. As Hello Kitty’s motto says: ‘You can never have too many friends.”

Primark’s Hello Kitty collection will land in Primark stores across all 16 markets this month.

To browse the range and check stock in your local store, visit primark.com.

Primark’s Hello Kitty Café launches this week in Birmingham, Manchester Market Street, Manchester Trafford, Edinburgh and Braehead stores, serving customers until June. The iconic character will also make a special guest appearance in select cafe locations over the coming weeks.

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SANRIO® announces a celebration of 50 years of Hello Kitty: a timeless icon’s golden anniversary

Posted on by Maura Rastelli

Sanrio®, the global lifestyle brand renowned for its beloved characters, is launching an epic celebration for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the iconic Hello Kitty.

In anticipation of this major milestone on November 1, 2024, the coming year will be filled with ways to celebrate in both the digital and physical worlds and will be highlighted with many surprises along the way.

For nearly five decades, Hello Kitty has inspired generations, and her message of friendship, kindness, and inclusivity transcends cultures and continues to resonate with fans of all ages.

Hello Kitty wants to promote friendship to everyone in the world – including in the digital space. In anticipation of her 50th anniversary, Hello Kitty will release several digital promotions, reaching both existing fans and new generations to continue discovering Hello Kitty online.

Global DJ and avid Hello Kitty fan, Steve Aoki, comments, “Ever since I was a kid I’ve had a deep love for everything Hello Kitty. Her influence on culture, fashion, art, and design is unmistakable. Witnessing her digital evolution has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next! I’m confident that she will keep spreading happiness to millions worldwide. And I’m proud that there is an official Steve Aoki x Hello Kitty collaboration that we got to share with all the fans called ‘Hello Aoki.’ Happy 50th, Hello Kitty!”

SANRIO® will introduce new digital tools including an AR (Augmented Reality) app, short animations on TikTok, monthly promotions in My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox, and a presence in the digital world of Zepeto. Here’s what fans can expect:

AR App: Fans will soon have access to an AR app that allows them to interact with Hello Kitty as she dances beside five iconic global landmarks: toward SHIBUYA109 in Tokyo, Big Ben in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, TAIPEI 101 in Taiwan, and the Empire State Building in New York. These landmarks will come alive with celebratory animations, creating a joyous atmosphere. The AR app will also function as a TikTok effect, enabling fans to create and share their own Hello Kitty-themed videos, further enhancing the Anniversary celebration.

TikTok: To celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary, a dedicated Hello Kitty animation account, “This is Hello Kitty” (@this_is_hellokitty_), has been launched on TikTok, and up to four short animations of Hello Kitty will be posted every month.

Roblox Integration: Throughout the upcoming year, fans will find many ways to fully immerse themselves in the Hello Kitty-themed world in My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox. Starting in November, they can explore a photo booth for taking Y2K feel photos, enjoy a mini-game with emotes and costume rewards, and purchase avatars, costumes, and emotes. Additionally, from December, fans can experience a museum-themed mini-game and virtual exhibition, as well as participate in a thrilling “Find Hello Kitty” challenge. More excitement awaits in 2024 with the launch of a digital dance floor where fans will be able to dance the night away.

Hello Kitty_Roblox

Zepeto Avatar: Zepeto, the popular platform renowned for its customizable 3D avatars and social networking, is now home to a dedicated Hello Kitty environment. Within this virtual world, fans can immerse themselves in a delightful Hello Kitty experience with themed landscapes, games, boutiques, photo zones, and a dance space. Moreover, Zepeto introduces new features, offering users five exciting elements to explore: a Boutique Game where they can channel their inner fashion designer with Hello Kitty motifs, contests, and prizes; a Photo Zone where you can find the hidden Hello Kitty and capture memories; a Dance Zone for dancing alongside Hello Kitty and participating in dance challenges; Athletic Games for entertainment and excitement, and Item Shops brimming with Hello Kitty-themed outfits that allow users to express their unique style. Items will be available starting from November 1, while the Hello Kitty-themed worlds are planned to be launched from mid-November and onwards.

These fun digital experiences will be released sequentially starting in November 2023.

Additionally, the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC), known for its commitment to promoting understanding and friendship between the U.S. and Japan, has presented Hello Kitty with the Cultural Ambassador Award, recognizing her as an international symbol of peace and friendship.

For her 50th anniversary, Hello Kitty will usher in a new age of friendship, and with it, new opportunities to spread kindness with impactful programming and partnerships that will make every day just a little bit better.

To stay in the loop on all of the anniversary fun, follow @hellokittyeu on Instagram and subscribe to the Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube Channel.

Hello Kitty_4cities
 

 

 

Kaomoji’s fashion collab with Sanrio

Posted on by Giulia Rastelli

Kaomoji launches an exclusive Hello Kitty and Friends merchandise collection for European fans

The first big collaboration of Kaomoji in 2023 is announced: a Hello Kitty and Friends collection.

Well-known and much-beloved characters such as Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll made their way to Europe, with a special manga rebrand. A combination of Sanrio’s cuteness together with the unisex designs of Kaomoji makes for a unique design that Sanrio fans have yet to find.

Inspired by Japanese manga, all characters are now available with kawaii eyes and various halftone accents. The simple, yet unique designs make it easy to combine this special collection with your own wardrobe. This collaboration will include Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin. Everyone will have their own special design, but anyone who has a hard time choosing can always opt for the Hello Kitty and Friends design, which has everybody in it.

Kaomoji is a Dutch streetwear brand inspired by Japanese pop culture, which was founded in 2015. What once started out as a hobby project for friends, has now turned into the biggest anime streetwear fashion brand in Europe! They have a big worldwide fanbase and besides making their own original designs, they have also had multiple big collaborations with for example Hatsune Miku, Kizuna Ai and Doki Doki Literature Club, among others.

The Sanrio collection will go live on the 4th of April. You can get the collection on their webshop www.kaomoji.co and every convention they will attend this year. 

Sanrio appoints COO

Posted on by Giulia Rastelli

Sanrio has named Simon Gresswell as COO of Sanrio GmbH, MML and SGA, he will take up the post on the 15th May 2017.

Simon will be responsible for Sanrio’s business in EMEA, Oceania, South Africa and India and Mr Men Little Miss worldwide.

Managing Directors of Sanrio’s EMEA business Mr Jiro Kishimura and Mr Ronald Denecke –  “We are excited to have Simon join our team and build strong relationships with all our licensees and business partners. Simon’s expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to drive growth of our company and for all our properties”

Simon joins Sanrio with a unique perspective on licensing drawn from 25 years working on all sides of the industry in roles as licensee, licensor, agent and consultant. He most recently held a senior role as Vice President, Licensing Europe and International at global sports, media and fashion agency WME | IMG, where key acquisitions and global clients included UEFA Euro2016 and Volkswagen.

“I’m excited and privileged to be joining such a prestigious, global brand owner. Sanrio’s portfolio includes ‘classic brands’ that have long since transcended the world of character licensing. Hello Kitty and Mr Men & Little Miss, have everything that ideal brand propositions should have for creative licensing and extension – instant awareness and consumer affection, established history as well as contemporary currency, retro and cutting edge design possibilities and cross generational mixed with multiple retail tier appeal and value. These simple but powerful characters offer engaging attributes that have already been used to reinforce other brands’ campaigns and messages and these can also be brought to life as experiences.”

SANRIO TEAMS WITH ITALIAN RADIO STAR LA PINA TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT #DANCE4AFRICA BY “SOS VILLAGGI DEI BAMBINI”

Posted on by Giulia Rastelli

Small gift, big smile! It is more than just a catchy phrase. Sanrio, the Japanese brand creator of Hello Kitty, believes that a gift is more than just a simple present as it means expressing heartfelt feelings to others.

This is the reason behind the new Hello Kitty partnership with the Italian radio celebrity La Pina to support the project “Sos villaggi dei bambini” – SOS children’s Villages by #DANCE4AFRICA who have launched the new fundraising campaign to help 500 children and teenage orphans including victims of violence in Swaziland.

The book published by Vallardi Editore titled “I Love Tokyo” on April 3rd 2017, talks about La Pina’s passion for Japan. With this release there will also be Sanrio-style limited edition merchandise made by One Target SA, the leading company in merchandising production. The collection includes Hello Kitty exclusive plushes by La Pina, two new characters featured in her book “Onigiri” and “Edamame” and a travel set consisting of a bag, eye mask, beauty case, agenda, passport holder and travel mug inspired by Japanese icons and redesigned in Sanrio style. The merchandise will be distributed in selected Mondadori Stores and online on www.ibs.it. Sanrio and One Target will do their part and donate their proceeds to support the campaign.

Among the different promotional activities, La Pina has planned a tour in the major Italian bookstores starting from Milan on Saturday, April 8 at Libreria Rizzoli. On the same evening, La Pina will continue the day with photo shooting activities and DJ sets with Hello Kitty in a popular Milanese club. The tour will continue throughout the month of April and will stop at the Bologna, Naples and Turin Mondadori Stores.

Sanrio steps up brand building across EMEA

Posted on by Giulia Rastelli

In a strong start to 2016, Sanrio has stepped up its brand building activity, looking to tap into its Japanese DNA and to win a more adult consumer across EMEA with fun, immersive activations.

Hello Kitty appeared at two cherry blossom viewing events in April, in the LVMH owned Jardin d’ Acclimatation in Paris and in Stockholm’s Kungsträdgårdens, where the iconic character appeared with cosplayers, martial artists and musicians to introduce people to this springtime Japanese tradition.

The cherry blossom theme continues at MCM London Comic Con (May 27th – 29th) with the debut of Hello Kitty’s Superhero Hanami: fans will be able to experience a Hello Kitty themed Japanese garden, taking photos by Mount Kitty, posing under a Hello Kitty tori gate, building Sanrio avatars or even tending the Hello Kitty Zen Garden. The Superhero Hanami will then tour Comic Cons in other key European cities over the next six months to surprise and delight lovers of all things kawaii. Gudetama, Sanrio’s lazy egg character, so beloved of bloggers and early adopters is also taking a starring role in the Superhero Hanami…if we can persuade it to get out of bed, for once!

June 1st sees the launch of a summer-long Hello Kitty pop-up café in the city of her birth, a collaboration with Soho-based bakery Cutter & Squidge. The pop-up will serve themed afternoon teas in a secret garden environment and sell a range of limited edition merchandise and takeaway food items. Also launching this summer, Florence will become the first European city to host a permanent Hello Kitty café: the Hello Kitty Patisserie.

The Italian Hello Kitty patisserie joins the Hello Kitty chalets near Lake Garda and Rome which are welcoming holiday goers for the first time this summer. As part of a three way partnership between Sanrio, Nestle Gelati Motta and ECVacanze, the idea has proved popular with many weeks already booked up.

The sweet treats don’t end there, with new partners including Dots (Euro Pastry), Dunkin’ Donuts, Annabel Karmel and Candy Kittens, the brand owned by Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing. We take the attitude that a little of what you fancy does you good, particularly if balanced with regular exercise…

Keep your eye on the ball as Hello Kitty will appear in the UEFA Champions League next season! You can bet on her as the ultimate team player as her favourite saying goes ‘you can never have too many friends!’. But football is not her only sporting talent, as we launch Hello Kitty branded gi later this year with Moya Brand, a well-known martial arts brand which sponsors many promising athletes.

Finally, Sanrio across EMEA and Australasia will participate in Sanrio’s global character ranking in June to give fans the chance to vote for their favourite characters and discover new ones.