Hello Kitty photographed in every possible form across Asia

Date
16 June 2015

Fine, so she’s not a cat, she’s a girl called Kitty White – but even so, Hello Kitty is my favourite of all the brands that have survived globalisation. The sweet anthropomorphic kitten was first designed by Yuko Shimizu in 1974, produced by Japanese company Sanrio, and since her inception she has risen to the status of a global megastar. So much so that photographer Antonia Henschel saw fit to document her presence across Asia – Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul are all included – and turn the series into a book. Published as part of Frankfurt-based press Trademark Publishing’s Picnic series, the sweet collection documents Kitty’s feline presence in the form of balloons, cakes, flowers with whiskers, fancy dress costumes, teddy bears and signage, and it’s a loving and chaotic ode to her enduring presence. Long may she reign.

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Antonia Henschel: Ni Hao, Kitty

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Antonia Henschel: Ni Hao, Kitty

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Antonia Henschel: Ni Hao, Kitty

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Antonia Henschel: Ni Hao, Kitty

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Antonia Henschel: Ni Hao, Kitty

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Antonia Henschel: Ni Hao, Kitty

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About the Author

Maisie Skidmore

Maisie joined It’s Nice That fresh out of university in the summer of 2013 as an intern before joining full time as an Assistant Editor. Maisie left It’s Nice That in July 2015.

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