How Hello Kitty infiltrated youth culture

NewsFashionBeautyMusicDazed ClubDazed100Open To ChangeMagazineSearchContactAboutJobsLegalDazed media sitesAs the Sanrio mascot turns 50, we look at how she’s come to figure in underground culture, from punk feminism to scene kids, emos and gothsFeatureTextFelicity Martin22January 2024 Read More Why ‘chronically online’ memes will destroy the internetOur feeds are filling up with illegible content, and every day it gets harder to find common ground. Is social media in a death spiral? And if so, what comes next? For the past 50 years, a cartoon cat with a red bow on one ear has been an inescapable force. The Sanrio creation, which first appeared on a vinyl coin purse in the 70s, has since been a mainstay in our collective consciousness – as well as a serious cash cow, bringing in over $80 billion in revenue. Yet despite being a mass-marketed product, Hello Kitty has also been adopted by subcultures worldwide – among goths, scene kids and emos, as well as punk feminist and Riot Grrrl move...