Péro Meets Hello Kitty In A Joyful Fashion Collaboration

In the vibrant tapestry of contemporary fashion, few collaborations evoke as much excitement as this union. For its Spring/Summer 2025 collection, Pero has joined hands with Hello Kitty. As Hello Kitty celebrates her 50th anniversary, this partnership marks a delightful intersection of cultures, aesthetics, and values. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Aneeth Arora, the creative force behind Péro, who shared insights into their collection titled Hello Péro. This collection not only embodies a playful spirit but also conveys a message fundamental to both Pero and Hello Kitty – love, kindness, human connections. 

 

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The genesis of this collaboration is steeped in serendipity. Arora recounted how her admiration for Hello Kitty blossomed during the pandemic while watching a documentary, The Toys That Made Us (2017), which showed the character’s journey since her inception in 1975. “It was the universe that said hello,” she mused, highlighting how the stars aligned when Hello Kitty’s team approached Péro for this significant milestone. The result is a collection that resonates with nostalgia and joy, inviting fans to celebrate a shared love for creativity.

At the heart of Hello Péro lies the concept of Cottage Core Kawaii, an enchanting blend of cottage-core aesthetics with the playful charm of kawaii culture. Arora explained how Péro has always embraced traditional Indian textiles and techniques. However they have refined these elements to create a more polished look that still captures the essence of DIY culture. “We coined this new term for this collection which perfectly explains the designs of Pero as well as the aesthetics of Hello Kitty,” she said, “This collection also honours the DIY culture that the young generation is into,” she adds, emphasising how this blend allows for intricate embroidery and playful motifs.

The collection’s colour palette is equally captivating. With core colours like red, white, blue, and pink—echoing Hello Kitty’s iconic hues—the designs balance between the softer tones of cottagecore and the vibrant energy of kawaii culture. Arora noted that their existing colour schemes luckily aligned with Hello Kitty’s world, creating a seamless transition between the two aesthetics. “There are these red and white checks in cottagecore that merge beautifully with Hello Kitty’s colours,” she explained.

Surface ornamentation plays a pivotal role in storytelling within this collection. Using techniques such as embroidery and appliqué, Péro brings characters like Hello Kitty to life on their garments. Arora described how hand embroidery allows for greater control and creativity when depicting iconic characters, enabling them to incorporate 3D elements like bows, and stuffed strawberries – that are Hello Kitty signatures – into their designs. This attention to detail enhances visual appeal and deepens the narrative woven into each piece.

Moreover, Arora highlighted Péro’s commitment to social responsibility through their work with Afghan refugee women. Over the past decade, they have developed a collaborative relationship that fosters innovation within traditional craft techniques. This season, they experimented with crochet to create unique embellishments inspired by Hello Kitty’s whimsical world. “Sky is the limit for us,” she said confidently about this ongoing partnership.

As we delved deeper into the collection’s themes, it became clear that nostalgia is a driving force behind “Hello Péro.” Arora reminisced about her childhood memories of Hello Kitty on lunchboxes and school bags, which now resonate with her as an adult designer. This nostalgic connection informs her design philosophy and aligns beautifully with Hello Kitty’s values of love and friendship—principles echoed throughout the collection.

Creating such an innovative collaboration was not without its challenges. With SS25 already in development when Hello Kitty’s team reached out, Arora initially worried about merging two distinct worlds seamlessly. Yet she found that both aesthetics complemented each other beautifully, resulting in a collection that feels cohesive and fresh. “It was meant to be,” she remarked about how effortlessly both worlds came together. 

Looking ahead, Arora expressed her desire to explore future collaborations with other unique characters or brands that resonate with her creative vision. For her last collaboration, Arora chose to work with Barbapapa, a lesser-known animated character. The unique characteristics and the values of the character resonated with her and served her the inspiration for her designs. Choosing such unusual collaborations, she aims to continue bending fashion norms by embracing unconventional partnerships.

As we all eagerly anticipate seeing Hello Péro come to life on runways and in stores, I am excited about how this collection will redefine playful fashion while honouring cultural connections, craftsmanship, and nostalgia. With its rich storytelling and vibrant aesthetics, it promises to be more than just clothing—it is an invitation to celebrate joy and creativity through fashion.