By Allyson Kramer
Who would’ve thought something as simple as a swap in color
could have a multi-million dollar impact on industries across the globe. Since
2000, Pantone, a company known for its premier color matching system, has
selected a color of the year. Upon the announcement of the color, the fashion
industry promptly incorporates it into its upcoming collections. However,
unlike the 15 years prior, Pantone chose not one but two colors to define 2016.
The first is a warm and embracing soft pink called “Rose Quartz.” The second is
a tranquil light blue aptly named “Serenity.”
Though the colors are soft and serene, the move is a bold one
for the color company. Instead of the color selection being simply a suggestion
for the worlds of fashion and interior design, this year the company’s decision
reflects a swift change in society. The colors describe a “gender blur” in
terms of fashion. Instead of using one color to describe the “mood” of a year,
Pantone selected the two pastels to match “a generation that has less concern
about being typecast or judged and an open exchange of digital information that
has opened our eyes to different approaches to color usage.” Pantone’s colors
of the year are cause for both celebration and a wardrobe expansion.
(Image by Pantone)
