Pantone Color of the Year

Have you ever been out shopping and notice that the store window displays have a common theme in color? Ever notice when a new season encroaches on us, the stores seem to be a sea of one specific color? How about when the fashion runways display the same common color and even the makeup trends seem to be geared in one specific direction. This is not on accident my friends. This is actually controlled by Pantone. If you’re involved in the cosmetic or fashion industries and are not familiar with Pantone, I suggest you take out your phone RIGHT NOW and start that google engine up.

From the Pantone website (www.pantone.com/about-us) “Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the world-renowned authority on color and provider of color systems and leading technology for the selection and accurate communication of color across a variety of industries. The PANTONE® name is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer.” So, in much simpler terms the Pantone company is the visionary, the OG of trendsetting and our go to people for all things color. When you are noticing the reoccurrence of color in all the different stores in the mall, it’s 100% not by coincidence. In fact, it is planned. SO detailed and planned that the color is carefully chosen and handpicked.

The process according to: www.glamour.com/story/how-does-pantone-pick-color-of-year

The Pantone creators look all over the world (literally) to find which colors are standing out predominately. They look at fashion, of course. They ask “what colors are standing out in prints and patterns”. They look at art, movies, cars, technology, everything and anything that could provide inspiration. They think about what color has been the underdog and are not being used to the highest capacity. They think about what color will be new and fresh and innovative. Will it inspire people? Will people be excited and intrigued to use this new color? An enormous amount of work goes into trying to narrow down to a specific color family that will be addressed in the running for the Pantone Color of the Year.

The Pantone team spends most of their time traveling throughout the world searching for the next color. Of course they make stops at the fashion capitals such as Paris, Milan, and New York, but they also take detour trips to see what is going on in other parts of the world. Actually, if you think about it, each different part of the world offers a different perspective of colors for the Pantone team. They take notes, and pictures and pictures and more pictures to justify the colors they are seeing.

After an extreme amount of research, many minds thinking about different things, and extensive amount of traveling and deliberating, the experts at pantone sit down and carefully look at the colors that wowed us in years past. They take into consideration what was happening in the world, what was trending and what events were taking place when the past color was chosen. They use this tactic in picking the new color because the new color will set the tone for the entire year. It’s a HUGE decision to be made. If you think about it, this color is a giant collaboration of which ever year it is representing. The color speaks to the world and expresses all of the occurrences.

Once the pantone of the year is chosen it quickly pops up in all the stores. Actually, Sephora even carries a line of Pantone cosmetics. There are so many different products that represent Pantone such as mugs, watches, cell phone cases, all with the very identifiable Pantone swatch. You’ll see the color of the year effecting fashion immensely. In clothing, accessories, women’s wear, men’s wear, children’s wear, home design and anything else you can think of!  Typically, this color will be popularized when it is announced and carried out for about three years after. But why is color so darn important to us? Well, www.psfk.com explains the psychology behind the color, and why it does so heavily effect our lives. “Color plays a critical role in consumer purchasing decisions. It’s the first thing the consumer sees – the thing that will determine whether or not they go one step further to try something on or pick up the product to take a better look. With today’s consumers much more educated about color and color trends, they want to make sure they are on trend. Product developers and retailers want to make sure they have the right colors in their assortment to satisfy consumer demand.”

Do you ever think about the colors of a specific brand you buy and you notice that the color of the packaging is always exactly the same?  Or how different brands have very specific colors that their company is represented by. Very common to this idea is the infamous Tiffany blue, Barbie’s iconic pink, the fire hot Coca Cola red, to name a few. It isn’t on accident that these extremely recognizable colors always look EXACTLY the same. This is due to the Pantone system. The Pantone system is a set formula created to build a color. Companies can purchase those colors to ensure that their branding is always completely accurate.

.

2016 was a huge year for Pantone as a brand as they chose not one, but TWO colors are the Pantone of the year. Rose Quartz and Serenity were chosen together for 2016. According to www.pantone.com they state that “A softer take on color for 2016: For the first time, the blending of two shades – Rose Quartz and Serenity are chosen as the PANTONE Color of the Year.” Leatrice Eiseman, the Executive Director of Pantone University explains the choice of these colors as “the colors demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace.” These beautiful colors have been a predominant force in all aspects and are taking everyone by storm.

With all this new, awesome, knowledge, I bet you will be shopping differently from here on out. You will notice more reoccurring colors, you will think how you can pair them with products you already have and you will be tuned in the non-coincidental factors happening around you!