She’s one of many world’s most well-known cats – and has been placed on all the pieces from planes and trains to folks’s pores and skin. 

Because it’s launch in 1974, the simplistic Japanese cartoon cat Hey Kitty has skyrocketed into one of the crucial worthwhile franchises on the planet.

From Mariah Carey to Paris Hilton, the Hey Kitty model has attracted a wealth of admirers over the a long time.

Avid collectors have bought merchandise together with cosmetics, stationery, toiletries, tote baggage, umbrellas, keyrings, iphone circumstances, alarm clocks, jewelry bins and journey units bearing her face.

And now followers of the cute Sanrio character have been cashing in on a few of their now classic wares, as objects reminiscent of watches, cups and pillows have elevated in worth through the years. 

Individuals are prepared to pay a excessive value for collectable objects reminiscent of the posh Hey Kitty jewellery vary, with necklaces valued at as much as £12,000. 

In the meantime collectors objects, like Pez dispensers, at the moment are being offered second-hand on websites like ebay and fetching as much as £50, whereas Victoria Couture baggage go for as much as £80.  

After the launch of it is sell-out collaboration with Nike this yr, FEMAIL take’s a deep dive into the beloved Japanese cat’s excessive tradition historical past.  

Hey Kitty objects are being flogged on-line for as much as £12,000 as collectors rush to get their hand’s on merchandise that includes the cartoon cat 

One piece of jewelry from a set with Kimora Lee Simmons is at the moment below public sale for over £12,000 on-line 

In the meantime a pair of trainers from the Hey Kitty x Nike assortment which was launched earlier this yr at the moment are being resold for as much as £250 on eBay

One itemizing on the positioning is promoting the trainers for £206, whereas different listings provide the footwear for as much as £250 

A cartoon character, international trend icon and megabrand, Hey Kitty is likely one of the most weird success tales in fashionable enterprise.

The Hey Kitty was first drawn by designer Yuko Shimizu, 76, 48 years in the past and is owned by Japanese firm Sanrio. 

Created in 1974 the little cat character which first seem on a vinyl purse, got here with solely a restricted again story – she was born in London and appreciated cookies. 

Regardless of being broadly often called Hey Kitty, her full identify is definitely ‘Kitty White’ and she or he lives in suburban London along with her dad and mom, George and Mary.

In the meantime followers are additionally determined to get their fingers on a brand new clothes assortment between Nike and Hey Kitty (left and proper) 

A pair of jogging bottoms and a jumper are being offered on the positioning for as much as £430 (pictured) 

In the meantime a set of Hey Kitty Pez, which is described as having been retired, can fetch as much as £61 on-line 

One itemizing exhibits the Pez, which is a sort of plastic candy dispenser, being offered for up high £60 

In the meantime she additionally she has a twin sister, Mimmy, who wears a bow on the alternative ear.

Creators at Sanrio have mentioned that Hey Kitty’s lack of mouth is as a result of they need her feelings to stay ambiguous, and permit followers to ‘challenge their very own emotions onto her’. 

The Looper reported Hey Kitty’s head designer Yuko Yamaguchi saying: ‘Her life is about simply above that of Japanese women.

‘Across the time Kitty was born, England was the dream nation of all the women in Japan. 

‘So we match her in English life.’ 

The Hey Kitty was first drawn by designer Yuko Shimizu, 76, 48 years in the past and is owned by Japanese firm Sanrio

By 2010 the bobtail cat cartoon was hailed a ‘international advertising and marketing phenomenon’ by the New York Instances, releasing excessive tradition collaborations with tv persona Kimora Lee Simmons and Victoria Couture. 

Since then the model has exploded, reaching the worldwide teenage market within the 90’s and grossing £6 billion a yr by 2014. 

In 2005, Simmons Jewellery Co. and Sanrio introduced a partnership for ‘Kimora Lee Simmons for Hey Kitty’.

It was launched solely at Neiman Marcus, with costs starting from £175 to £3,500, with objects dripping with 18 carat gold, semi-precious stones and diamonds. 

The bobtail cat even has it is personal eatery – The Sanrio Hey Kitty café is situated in Siam Sq., Bangkok and was opened in September 2014. 

The menu consists of delicately made bao buns within the form of the cat and kitty themed cocktails. 

The identical yr, followers have been in for a shock after studying  that the feline they beloved and knew, is not truly a cat in any respect. 

A Kimora Lee Simmons star signal pendant necklace (Libra) can fetc upwards of £500 on Ebay, the necklace is fabricated from silver and treasured stones with an enamel coating 

A sapphire necklace, a part of the Kimora Lee Simmons x Hey Kitty assortment, can attain as much as £600 on eBay 

Totally different Hey Kitty necklaces on the positioning will be listed as much as £600 on the second-hand web site 

As an alternative Sanrio revealed she is a  ‘little lady as heavy as 5 apples’. 

The invention was made by Christine R. Yano, who informed the LA Instances: ‘That is one correction Sanrio made for my script for the present. Hey Kitty will not be a cat. She’s a cartoon character. She is slightly lady.

‘She will not be a cat. She’s by no means depicted on all fours. She walks and sits like a two-legged creature. 

‘She does have a pet cat of her personal, nonetheless, and it is referred to as Charmmy Kitty.’ 

On the time Katy Perry even tweeted: ‘Don’t fret Hey Kitty followers, Kitty Purry remains to be a cat.’ 

With many collectors and followers worldwide, one has been acknowledged because the Sanrio character’s official high fan. 

In the meantime the Kimora Lee Simmons branded ceramic watch is listed on eBay for £970 (pictured) 

In 2016 Masao Gunji, 67, from Chiba, Japan was acknowledged by Guinness World Data final November for having the biggest assortment of Hey Kitty memorabilia. 

He owns an astounding assortment of 5,169 objects, which will be seen in his pink home within the video. 

The file holder has cookware, stuffed toys, stationery and art work – a set he has construct alongside his spouse costing the pair hundreds through the years. 

When requested why he likes Hey Kitty Gunji responded :’For some motive once I’m unhappy, she appears slightly bit unhappy as effectively and when I’m completely satisfied, she appears completely satisfied.

‘Hey Kitty has at all times cheered me up once I was sad.’ 

Followers are even clamboring to get their fingers on Hey Kitty branded bins – with one can fetching as much as £28 on-line 

In the meantime a ‘cute HelloKitty bin’ is now fetching £28.48 on the second-hand web site as followers are determined to get their fingers on it  

In 2022, the craze exhibits no indicators of slowing down, with followers flogging their Hey Kitty collections on-line.

One crystal encrusted Hey Kitty necklace is at the moment up for public sale on eBay for over £12,000. 

In the meantime encrusted Kimora Lee Simmons items nonetheless valued at tons of and in some circumstances over £1,000 on-line.

Even a easy tote again is being valued at £20, and a preferred pillow from the 90’s as soon as offered for £10 is now being flogged for £40 on-line and dubbed as a ‘uncommon piece’. 

A pez assortment is being flogged for £61 on Ebay, whereas a easy stationary set from Japan is being offered by completely different sellers for over £100. 

Merchandise vary from a lighter with a pink flame, leather-based tissue holders, bins, memorabilia set and even toasters that make your morning breakfast kitty-fied. 

Even a mug from the model can fetch as much as £60 or extra on-line, with collectors describing it as ‘uncommon’ and ‘classic’ 

Restricted version Hey Kitty mugs are fetching £60 or extra on-line, some described as ‘uncommon, classic’ objects