Sanrio’s roster of characters remains in year-over-year contention for the highest-grossing global media franchises, and two current belles of the ball are mainly responsible. It’s no surprise that as the Hello Kitty franchise reunites with PUMA, Kuromi and Hello Kitty make heavy appearances across the full range of products.
More accurately, this is the “Hello Kitty and Friends” PUMA collection, evident as you work your way through the four footwear styles on offer. The most accessible is the first appearance of the Easy Rider in women’s sizing, planting cutesy embroidery on the venerated running style. In what’ll become a theme, there’s truly no shortage of branding, as the cursive logo pops on the midsole and Kitty’s visage appears stamped on the heel counter. She also takes over the kids’ Suede XL, an entirely rosy design with chunky design touches and a pink tie-dye print across either quarter panel.
The rest of the footwear sticks in the younger demographic yet expands the character scope twofold. The Kuromi Easy Rider further spreads the tie-dye print and keeps to a pastel-laden palette of “Lilac Frost” and “Magic Rose.” Spot the troublemaker on the lace shroud, embracing the cloudy pattern on her signature jester hat. The capsule rounds out with a Palerm, tacking pale green into the same pastel atmosphere and sporting My Melody attached to its laces.
In addition to these sneaker options, a range of women’s and kids’ apparel also lands alongside. The entire Hello Kitty PUMA collection is available now, having dropped at midnight on March 6th. Check the “Where To Buy” sections ahead for pricing info on each and to grab your pair. Again, note that only the black Easy Rider is available in adult sizing — each of the additional three shoes is available in grade school, pre-school and toddler sizing.
