Hello Péro Introduces Cottage Core Kawaii

A Perfect Collaboration for a Milestone Celebration
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, péro teamed up with Hello Kitty in a collaboration that emerged through serendipity. Founder Aneeth Arora shared how her admiration for Hello Kitty blossomed during the pandemic while watching the documentary The Toys That Made Us (2017), which chronicled the character’s evolution since its creation in 1975. “It was the universe that said hello,” she reflected, emphasizing the fortuitous timing when Hello Kitty’s team approached péro for this milestone collaboration. The outcome is a collection rich in nostalgia and joy, inviting fans to celebrate their shared passion for creativity.

Hello Péro Collection

About the Brand
Founded in 2009, péro—which means “to wear” in Marwari, a dialect spoken in Rajasthan—draws inspiration from traditional crafts worldwide to establish its unique identity. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, péro creates clothing for men, women, and children (known as chota péro or little péro) along with home furnishings. The brand’s design language is both elegantly simple and intricately complex, transcending boundaries of gender, age, time, and geography. With a focus on nostalgia and a sense of love, péro embraces a blend of relatable and unexpected handmade elements.

The Concept of Cottage Core Kawaii
At the core of the Hello Péro collection is the concept of Cottage Core Kawaii, an enchanting fusion of cottage-core aesthetics and the playful charm of kawaii culture. Arora explained that while péro has always embraced traditional Indian textiles and techniques, this collection refines those elements to create a polished look that still embodies the essence of DIY culture. “We coined this new term for this collection, which perfectly captures the designs of péro and the aesthetics of Hello Kitty,” she said. “This collection also honors the DIY culture that resonates with the younger generation,” she emphasized, noting how this blend allows for intricate embroidery and playful motifs.

Hello Péro Collection

Arora expressed her excitement about the collaboration, stating, “I am thrilled to celebrate péro’s 15th anniversary with this special collaboration with Sanrio on Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary. Together, péro and Hello Kitty will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, discovering all the delightful things—big and small—through our collaboration, péro x Hello Kitty. This collection is a tribute to our collective childhood nostalgia, reinterpreted in our whimsical style—a blend of exquisite Indian craftsmanship and the playful essence of Japanese Harajuku street style.”

Hello Péro Collection

The collection’s color palette is equally enchanting. Featuring core colors like red, white, blue, and pink—reflective of Hello Kitty’s iconic hues—the designs strike a balance between the softer tones of cottage-core and the vibrant energy of kawaii culture. Arora noted that their existing color schemes align well with Hello Kitty’s world, creating a seamless fusion of the two aesthetics. “The red and white checks from cottage-core merge beautifully with Hello Kitty’s colors,” she explained. Surface ornamentation plays a crucial role in storytelling within this collection. Through techniques such as embroidery and appliqué, péro brings characters like Hello Kitty to life on their garments. Arora described how hand embroidery provides greater control and creativity in depicting these iconic characters, allowing for the incorporation of 3D elements like bows and stuffed strawberries—signatures of Hello Kitty. This meticulous attention to detail not only enhances the visual appeal but also deepens the narrative woven into each piece.