Somebody grab the birthday candles, because in a few months, Hello Kitty is celebrating her 50th birthday.
Hello Kitty, a white anthropomorphic cat known for her red hair bow and blue overalls, was “born” on Nov. 11, 1974, and today she is one of the most recognizable cartoon characters. Though Hello Kitty has been around for five decades, consumers may have noticed an increase in Hello Kitty merchandise on the shelves due to the milestone anniversary.
Madelynn Boyts, 27, has been collecting Hello Kitty and Sanrio (Hello Kitty’s parent company) merchandise for about nine years. She often received Hello Kitty gifts throughout her childhood, but it wasn’t until she was an adult that she began to take collecting more seriously.
Considering herself a “casual collector,” Boyts owns more than 50 Hello Kitty items, including greeting cards, slippers, plush toys, tins and even food, like the Prince Katsu Hello Kitty Chicken Noodle Soup cup. She also owns a Hello Kitty Tamagotchi, a handheld toy, and a Hello Kitty digital camera.