The most famous adorable kitten in the world, Hello Kitty, is an icon of pop culture.
For many, she was the face of childhood accessories: backpacks, notebooks, glasses, mugs, and more. Recently, she also became the image of themed cafes. It is even possible to travel on planes with her logo!
Now, she is getting a new product line at the United Nations Bookshop to celebrate her commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Keep reading to know more about Hello Kitty and discover a few surprising facts about her!
Hello Kitty is an ambassador
In 1983, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) appointed her the children's ambassador to the United States for the first time.
Years later, in 1994, UNICEF re-appointed her as a children's ambassador, this time in her native Japan.
In 2008, Hello Kitty was named Japan's official tourism ambassador to China. With the appointment, the government aimed to reach fans of the character and invited them to visit Japan.
Hello Kitty has cafes all over the world
There are a growing number of Hello Kitty cafes, all with different themes, which are not just in Japan but are popping up all over the world. Some of them are in Australia and in the Republic of Korea.
In addition to that, Keio Plaza Hotel, in Tokyo, has Hello Kitty-themed rooms and there is even a huge Hello Kitty theme park in Singapore!
Hello Kitty is a partner of the UN with the project #HelloGlobalGoals
Sanrio, the Japanese company that owns Hello Kitty, launched the #HelloGlobalGoals campaign in partnership with the United Nations.
At the launch event, Hello Kitty was at the UN "in person", participating in a live talk at the SDG Media Zone moderated by actor Kate Reinders, where she presented the first video of the #HelloGlobalGoals series – a conversation with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed.
Hello Kitty is not a cat
Christine Yano, an anthropologist at the University of Hawaii and researcher of kawaii culture, told the Los Angeles Times that she was corrected "very firmly" by Sanrio that Kitty was not a kitten.
"It was a correction that Sanrio made to my exhibition script," she told the paper.
"Hello Kitty is not a cat. She is a little girl. She is a friend. But she is not a cat. She never appears walking on all fours. She walks and sits like a two-legged creature," Sanrio confirmed.
Hello Kitty is launching a new product line in partnership with the UN
The Sanrio-owned Japanese cartoon character has teamed up with the United Nations on a new line of products featuring Hello Kitty.
The collection is the result of a long-term partnership between the company and the UN to show support for the SDGs.
The collection spans from lanyards and notebooks to pins and tote bags. Featuring Hello Kitty designs and SDG-themed illustrations and colours, every piece is sustainable and unique.
The products are available online at the shop.un.org and at the UN Bookshop in New York.
