Colour of the Season- PANTONE 16

Towards the end of each year, colour experts from the Pantone Colour Institute come together to determine the colour that will dominate the runways across the fashion world. They research colour inspirations drawing influences from the various industries including fashion, art, trusted online fashion brand, travel and entertainment to define the “IT” colour of the upcoming year. 

For the past 20 years, The Pantone Colour Institute has been determining and announcing the colour of the year respectively which has influenced product development for a multitude of industries from fashion to lifestyle. The colour of the season is not only reflected in clothing that you see on your trusted online fashion brand but spans to anywhere from home décor to new product launches and even graphic designing for thematic packaging. 

In order to narrow down and finalize which colour will dominate the next year, colour experts at the institute explore data looking at past trends that contribute in influencing purchasing decisions. They go through everything from what is happening in the entertainment industry and the art world to popular travel destinations and other areas of the fashion and design which play a pivotal role when it comes to the selection process. Even major upcoming sporting events, new patterns and textures as well as what’s trending in the social media landscape are taken into consideration.

Before we get into this year’s colour, let’s talk a little bit about the Pantone Colour Institute. The Pantone Colour Institute has been defined as a business unit within Pantone that “highlights top seasonal runway colours, forecasts global colour trends, and advises companies on colour for product and brand visual identity. Through seasonal trend forecasts, colour psychology, and colour consulting, the Pantone Colour Institute partners with global brands to leverage the power, psychology, and emotion of colour in their design strategy”- source Pantone™. Thus, every designer and trusted online fashion brand uses the direction given by the Pantone Colour Institute to select their future collections.

For this year’s colour of the year, The Pantone Institute announced PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral as the colour for 2019. Reflecting hues of the coral reefs which provide shelter to a huge kaleidoscope of colour, Living Coral provides a wide colour selection. It echoes the riveting colours found deep under the sea which encapsulate ones imagination with its lively and unique existence.  

Living Coral encapsulates the essence of the warmth and has been defined by Pantone as an “animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.” Cheerful and lively, Living Coral depicts the vivacious sea world encapsulating its energy and vibrancy. 

In an ever changing and fast moving digital environment of today, Living Coral emphasises on being one with nature and reconnecting with the earth. This can be seen in both designers and consumers leaning towards more natural tones and textures. The vivid quality of the colour of the season gives ample room for us to experiment and play with by drawing inspiration from a multitude of underwater elements such as the roughness of the coral itself, an array of fish and the gritty sand. 

It has been seen in recent years that consumers are becoming more and more environmentally conscious thus pushing big brands to become more eco-friendly as is depicted in the purchasing patterns. As coral reefs are a safe haven for sea life, the colour of the season reflects this same consumer sentiment and brings the protection of natural habitats and the ecosystem to the forefront.  It sheds light on raising awareness about the possible crisis of losing almost all coral reefs by the year 2050.