The simple design of the character - who is not a cat, but a little girl from London, according to Sanrio, the company behind Kitty - has mileage as a money-spinner for years to come, experts say.
One woman in the US state of California has amassed so much Hello Kitty merchandise that her husband built her a pink so-called "she-shed" to keep it in.
Stuffed inside are thousands of toys and other items featuring Kitty and her eye-catching red bow, including rows of sunglasses, a swivel chair and novelty gumball dispensers.
"People my age, you know, we are told many times, 'Hello Kitty is for little kids', and I laugh at that," said Ms Helen from Riverside County, conceding she is "50 plus".
Ms Helen, who drives a Hello Kitty-decorated sport utility vehicle and runs the local fan club Hello Kitty SoCal Babes, has been "obsessed" with the character since its 1970s US debut.
Denne historien er fra November 01, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra November 01, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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