Ground Up × Sanrio®: The One-of-a-Kind Hello Kitty & Friends Sneaker

Press release

Ground Up × Sanrio®: The One-of-a-Kind Hello Kitty & Friends Sneaker NOW at Kids Foot Locker!

New York, NY — Sanrio’s Hello Kitty® has been a cultural and fashion icon for over 50 years. This Holiday season, Ground Up is expanding its partnership in the footwear space with an exclusive Kids Foot Locker sneaker release that celebrates the magic of the Sanrio universe. The collection features fan-favorite characters, Hello Kitty’s signature bow, lace charms, a friendship bracelet accessory, and surprise details sure to delight fans.

This holiday sneaker brings together fan-favorite characters like Hello Kitty, Kuromi™, My Melody™, Cinnamoroll™, and Pompompurin™ reimagined in an eye-catching pink court silhouette. Inspired by the charm of beaded bracelets and collectible accessories, the design captures the sparkle, smiles, and magic of Sanrio’s beloved universe. Crafted with an iridescent synthetic leather upper, customizable beaded charms, and soft cushioning for all-day comfort, the style blends nostalgic cuteness with modern flair—bringing joy and shine to every step for fans big and small.

On this partnership, Layna Patel, Vice President of Licensing at Ground Up, says, “We're thrilled to partner with Sanrio to bring the beloved charm of Hello Kitty and Friends® to life through fresh, fashion-forward footwear. This collaboration is a perfect blend of nostalgia, joy, and style. The synergy between Hello Kitty's iconic, cross-generational appeal and Ground Up's design-driven approach creates the perfect foundation for a standout collection that truly resonates with fans of all ages.”

Alongside Hello Kitty highlights, Ground Up has been tracking trends like charm bracelets, customizable sneakers, and integrating key elements into sneaker design.

Priced at $65, the Ground Up x Sanrio sneaker delivers an elevated, fashion-forward option that’s perfect for holiday gifting. Sold exclusively at Kids Foot Locker, this holiday-ready release makes the perfect collectible for gifting season - bringing cheer, nostalgia, and style to Sanrio fans of all ages.

About Ground Up:
Ground Up’s brand mission is to inspire self-expression and creativity. With the ability to tap into different markets and price points, Ground Up meets the needs of every fan. The footwear we create allows fans to pair the characters they love with a brand they trust.

About Sanrio:
Sanrio® is the global lifestyle brand best known for Hello Kitty®, who was created in 1974, and home to many other beloved character brands such as My Melody™, Kuromi™, LittleTwinStars™, Cinnamoroll™, Pompompurin™, gudetama™, Aggretsuko™, Chococat™, Badtz-Maru™, and Keroppi™. Sanrio was founded on the philosophy that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration to offer quality products, services, and activities that promote communication and inspire unique consumer experiences across the world. Today, Sanrio’s business extends into the entertainment industry with several content series, gaming offerings, and theme parks. Sanrio boasts an extensive product lineup that is available in over 130 countries. Sanrio hopes to bring smiles to everyone’s faces with its vision of “One World, Connecting Smiles.” To learn more about Sanrio, please visit www.sanrio.com and follow @sanrio and @hellokitty on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, and subscribe to the Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube Channel.