Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty is one of the most recognisable characters on the planet — a small, round-faced figure with a red bow, no visible mouth, and a presence on everything from pencil cases to aeroplanes. She was created in 1974 by designer Yuko Shimizu for the Japanese company Sanrio, first appearing on a small vinyl coin purse in 1975.

Officially her name is Kitty White, and Sanrio's playful backstory places her as a cheerful little girl living just outside London with her family. This has led to a long-running debate about whether Hello Kitty "is" a cat at all — Sanrio has said she is a character, a friend, not a pet — though her cat-like ears, whiskers and origins make her an enduring feline icon in the public imagination.

Her deliberately simple design, and especially her lack of a drawn mouth, was intended to let people project their own feelings onto her — happy when you are happy, calm when you are calm. That emotional openness helped turn her into a canvas for endless products and collaborations.

Over the decades Hello Kitty has grown into one of the highest-grossing media franchises ever created, spanning toys, fashion, cafés, theme parks and high-end designer partnerships. Whatever her official species, she remains the world's most famous bow-wearing kitty.