@ 1:44 PM by jessica
After reading Michelle's post on Hello Kitty, I had to write my take on Hello Kitty too.
If anyone knows me, they know I like Hello Kitty. Like any asian girl growing up, I was into cute stuff. Might be cliché to say such a story but I thought I'd share.
During my childhood, aside from my parents I was raised by my late great grandmother. She was around her mid 70's when she raised me, so she often went to the hospital weekly. As my father, siblings, and I waited for my great grandmother at Seton hospital, my father would take us to Serramonte Center. The store we always had to hit up was Sanrio, of course. And even if my dad bought us little things, it made me happy. Once we'd go home, my mother would get mad. She disliked us buying things that are unnecessary, even today she feels the same way. As a child, I did not limit myself to Hello Kitty because there was other great characters of Sanrio such as Pochacco, Badtz-Maru, Pekkle, Spottie Dottie, Little Twin Stars, etc.. I loved all the characters. My favorite Sanrio item would have to be the "Friends File" (lol) 'cause I'd get all my friends to sign it. I had one in middle school too when Hello Kitty was a mermaid theme, lol! I think I still have them too, and it's funny to look back on because there are questions like, "Cutest Couple," "Cutest Boy," "Cutest Girl," and all that. Hahahaha.
Even though my mother was strict about my dad buying us small things. She also took us to visit the Sanrio store in downtown. You know, the one that had THREE FLOORS and used to be on Stockton street where Armani Exchange resides now. I'm kind of sad that they closed it and moved it into the mall, but whatever. Back when FAO Shwarz (I remember going there for a fieldtrip in Elementary and a bigass gorilla plush fell onto the escalators, lol!) used to exist on the corner, too.
In high school, I'm pretty sure everyone I've left everyone a fond memory of me being the girl with a Hello Kitty obsession. When I passed out Hello Kitty valentine cards w/kisses to writing in everyone's yearbook with my signature Hello Kitty stamp. I was a bit obsessed. I remember, during high school.. I'd stop by the Sanrio store that once existed in Stonestown Galleria by Nordstrom since my high school was nearby. The week they were selling everything 30% off broke my heart because they were closing the store for lack of customers. I wanted to buy this pendant for prom (that I wanted to put on my corsage) but when I went back, the store was closed.
Last year, a close friend of my went to Japan. She was so excited to go. And I asked her, "Are you going to Sanrio Puroland?" And she told me, she never heard of it. Which came to a shock to me because she's one of the biggest Hello Kitty lovers I know and did not know that such a thing existed. She ended up giving Puroland a visit and came back with some goodies for me. And also sent me a Hello Kitty postcard (I collect HK postcards) from Puroland while she was in Japan. (Yeah bitches, I knew about Puroland way before it was on the hello-kitty.tumblr, gtfo my level. Hahah kidding, but I really did.)
People may think that I think I'm the shit and think I invented it but no, that's not my intentions. Here's an example... When I first got into streetwear, Stüssy was my favorite brand. I first wore it when I was fifteen years old.. I can say that I was the only person girl in my high school that wasn't a HK (Not Hello Kitty, Hong Kong) fob that wore it at the time. To be exact, I was a sophomore in high school. I let go of my bopper ways (Yes I said it, and I wasn't even an extreme bop either) and started getting into streetwear before Stüssy was the "cool" brand to wear.
When it comes to liking things, I get a bit obsessive until it becomes a fad and more than a few people start like it. Then I know, my fixation turns into a hidden addiction.
I used to be those girls that would hate others and be like, "OMG, s/he's a biter." But honestly, I'm over it. I could care less if another girl likes the same shit as me.
It's no lie that every girl growing up liked Hello Kitty. But what about the girls that loved Hello Kitty unconditionally as they grew up? Not the ones that started getting into it because of collaborations for Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary or started to like it again because others did. Yeah, you can say you always loved Hello Kitty when you were younger, but why obsess now? Why out of a sudden?
As long as this entry is, I did not give you an answer to why I like Hello Kitty but as to growing up with her.
After reading Michelle's post on Hello Kitty, I had to write my take on Hello Kitty too.
If anyone knows me, they know I like Hello Kitty. Like any asian girl growing up, I was into cute stuff. Might be cliché to say such a story but I thought I'd share.
During my childhood, aside from my parents I was raised by my late great grandmother. She was around her mid 70's when she raised me, so she often went to the hospital weekly. As my father, siblings, and I waited for my great grandmother at Seton hospital, my father would take us to Serramonte Center. The store we always had to hit up was Sanrio, of course. And even if my dad bought us little things, it made me happy. Once we'd go home, my mother would get mad. She disliked us buying things that are unnecessary, even today she feels the same way. As a child, I did not limit myself to Hello Kitty because there was other great characters of Sanrio such as Pochacco, Badtz-Maru, Pekkle, Spottie Dottie, Little Twin Stars, etc.. I loved all the characters. My favorite Sanrio item would have to be the "Friends File" (lol) 'cause I'd get all my friends to sign it. I had one in middle school too when Hello Kitty was a mermaid theme, lol! I think I still have them too, and it's funny to look back on because there are questions like, "Cutest Couple," "Cutest Boy," "Cutest Girl," and all that. Hahahaha.
Even though my mother was strict about my dad buying us small things. She also took us to visit the Sanrio store in downtown. You know, the one that had THREE FLOORS and used to be on Stockton street where Armani Exchange resides now. I'm kind of sad that they closed it and moved it into the mall, but whatever. Back when FAO Shwarz (I remember going there for a fieldtrip in Elementary and a bigass gorilla plush fell onto the escalators, lol!) used to exist on the corner, too.
In high school, I'm pretty sure everyone I've left everyone a fond memory of me being the girl with a Hello Kitty obsession. When I passed out Hello Kitty valentine cards w/kisses to writing in everyone's yearbook with my signature Hello Kitty stamp. I was a bit obsessed. I remember, during high school.. I'd stop by the Sanrio store that once existed in Stonestown Galleria by Nordstrom since my high school was nearby. The week they were selling everything 30% off broke my heart because they were closing the store for lack of customers. I wanted to buy this pendant for prom (that I wanted to put on my corsage) but when I went back, the store was closed.
Last year, a close friend of my went to Japan. She was so excited to go. And I asked her, "Are you going to Sanrio Puroland?" And she told me, she never heard of it. Which came to a shock to me because she's one of the biggest Hello Kitty lovers I know and did not know that such a thing existed. She ended up giving Puroland a visit and came back with some goodies for me. And also sent me a Hello Kitty postcard (I collect HK postcards) from Puroland while she was in Japan. (Yeah bitches, I knew about Puroland way before it was on the hello-kitty.tumblr, gtfo my level. Hahah kidding, but I really did.)
When it comes to liking things, I get a bit obsessive until it becomes a fad and more than a few people start like it. Then I know, my fixation turns into a hidden addiction.
I used to be those girls that would hate others and be like, "OMG, s/he's a biter." But honestly, I'm over it. I could care less if another girl likes the same shit as me.
It's no lie that every girl growing up liked Hello Kitty. But what about the girls that loved Hello Kitty unconditionally as they grew up? Not the ones that started getting into it because of collaborations for Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary or started to like it again because others did. Yeah, you can say you always loved Hello Kitty when you were younger, but why obsess now? Why out of a sudden?
As long as this entry is, I did not give you an answer to why I like Hello Kitty but as to growing up with her.
3 COMMENTS:
"My favorite Sanrio item would have to be the "Friends File" (lol) 'cause I'd get all my friends to sign it. I had one in middle school too when Hello Kitty was a mermaid theme, lol! I think I still have them too, and it's funny to look back on because there are questions like, "Cutest Couple," "Cutest Boy," "Cutest Girl," and all that. Hahahaha."
i had that too when i was kid, i would always ask my friends to sign it and pick out a sticker to it on their file.
It's funny that I've been into Hello Kitty since I was younger. I wasn't introduced to it till I was 7 because that's when I started visiting here, SD & going back & forth to Florida. Florida didn't have ANY of that. Hate to say it, but I grew up in a white neighborhood. I didn't even have one asian friend there. So, when I moved here, my stepdad took me on base & that's when I saw her again, HK in a middle aisle full of goodies. I fell in love with Pochacco though coz he was mostly purple. But in the back of my head, I always loved HK. I guess growing up with 2 guys cousins & 3 older brothers, I always loved HK coz she was so girly & it brought out the girly side of me. Almost like having a sister there. Idk if that makes sense, but yea. If it wasn't for HK, I think I would've grown up to a tomboy.
Hey Jess did I ever tell you that when I was little my mom used to take me the Sanrio store (when it was on Stockton street, before the huge one on Grant) and buy the Sanrio fabric? Next thing you know Monday rolls around and I've got on my Little Twin Stars/HK/My Melody blouse that she made for me and all the girls are ENVIOUS. *sigh* good times.
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