Now Sanrio’s celebrated Japan-made character, Hello Kitty, is joining the UNIQLO ranks ... accompanied by psychedelic tie-dye graphic prints and small embroidered characters.

The Times Art Museum is also showcasing a cross-disciplinary section for the exhibition, themed Hello Kitty Art. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] A 10-meter-tall apple, a cotton-candy world ...

And it begs the question: Why has Hello Kitty stayed so popular as other Gen-X cuties — Cabbage Patch Kids, Beanie Babies — flashed in the pan, their influence as faded as film-camera prints?

The monarch was feting a figure more recognisable than any billionaire or emissary: Hello Kitty, who turns 50 this year. The character was created by Shimizu Yuko, a Japanese illustrator ...