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The Japanese manufacturer Sanrio was founded in 1960 by Shintaro Tsuji. Originally known as the Yamanashi Silk Company, the enterprise quickly shifted from producing silk to making rubber sandals with designs and cartoon characters painted on them. In 1973, the company was officially rebranded as Sanrio--a name that was derived from an alternate Japanese reading of the word Yamanashi. One trait that set Sanrio apart from other brands very early on was the way in which the company created original characters for its artwork. After coming up with its first character design, Strawberry, in 1962, Sanrio struck gold with the creation of Hello Kitty in 1974. Over the last 40 years, the adorable feline has continuously contributed to the bulk of Sanrio's sales. Early on, the company branched out from sandals, and began printing its characters on an almost endless range of consumer products. Sanrio also created a film label that produces animated features, short films, and TV anime. In addition to Hello Kitty, some of the brand's best-known characters include Chococat, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, and Badtz-Maru.

Babies & Kids Merchandise

Products

A far cry from the silk line that launched the company more than 50 years ago, the Sanrio of today manufactures products that truly run the gamut. The company's designs and characters can be found on clothes, purses, accessories, jewelry, school supplies, toys, and more. In the clothing department, Sanrio features options for women, juniors, kids, babies, and toddlers. There are also several designer collections, which showcase the company's characters on products made by brands like Vans, Sephora, and Onch Movement. Bags include purses, wallets, backpacks, and luggage, all featuring creative prints of Hello Kitty or her pals. You can also find your favorite Sanrio characters on accessories like smartphone cases and earbuds as well as coin purses and umbrellas. There are even several options for Hello Kitty gasses frames. Kids in school go wild for the company's characters, and many children won't be satisfied until they have the latest My Melody notebook or Cinnamoroll pencil case. The company also makes home products like dishes, mugs, and bedroom sets. Sanrio jewelry ranges from lightweight rings and bracelets for kids all the way up to diamond-studded necklaces for older fans. As you might expect, the company thrives when it comes to toys, and you can choose between plush toys, dolls, and figurines of your Sanrio favorites.

Swap.com's Rating of Hello Kitty

Having a child who falls in love with a Sanrio character is both a blessing and a curse. You will never be at a loss when it comes time to shop for your little one, but kids also might not rest until they can collect every piece of memorabilia on the market. Since all the company's characters--like Hello Kitty--are designed in the Japanese kawaii ("cute") style, you will discover very quickly whether your youngster is one of the millions of kids who are drawn to the Sanrio creations. If so, you can rest assured that the manufacturer's products have a reputation for being high quality, which is why we give them four out of five stars.