The Colour of the Year is a highly anticipated annual report for fashion and design industries alike. It is chosen by representatives of international colour standards companies during secret meetings hosted by Pantone, which take place in a European capital twice a year. The colour (or, in this special case, colours) is meant to be representative of the current zeitgeist, a colourful materialisation of the global social and political trends, and will play a crucial role in the design landscape of the following year. It is, essentially, one of the many branches of trend forecasting, but one that is very broad as it embraces virtually all consumer-driven sectors.
This year's colours, both very calming, pastel shades, are meant to bring together two major lifestyle trends: gender fluidity and mental well-being.
The first is about the movement towards a more genderless society, a "new feminism that celebrates girl power but also allows men to recapture their gentler sides": it aims to make the world a more accepting place, where people of either sex and who identify of any gender can own whichever colour they prefer, without feeling the need to attach it to a single demographics. Gender-branding and gender-neutral products have been a big topic this year, with heated discussions about women being charged more for everyday products simply because they were "pink", and brands such as Target removing gender labels from children clothing.
The second has to do with bringing balance to an otherwise stressful, loud and turbulent world: it evokes peace and promotes calm, meditative thoughts which soothe one's psyche. Taking care of oneself inside and out has definitely become a more prominent trend in the last year, with fitness blogs and YouTube channels growing popular and promoting green smoothies, yoga, and plenty of water: feed goodness to your body as well as your soul.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute, stated: “With the whole greater than its individual parts, joined together Serenity and Rose Quartz demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness.”
So what do you think? Do you think you would wear Quartz and Serenity? I personally really like them as I never fully recovered from the baby pastels craze of a few summers ago, although I can see why they might not be for everyone. I will be definitely be on the look out for these two shades to slowly make their way to the shelves over the next few months.
Here is a video which summarises it in a quick, succinct way!
Serenity and Rose Quartz are Pantone's newest colors of the year
Pantone just named two colors of the year. But what does that actually mean?
Posted by Quartz on Thursday, 3 December 2015
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