GLOBAL – Illustrating that color can speak volumes, Pantone has taken the unusual step of naming Rose Quartz and Serenity together as their 2016 Color of the Year. Expressing the hope that the interaction between “warm and embracing” pink tones and the “tranquil” blues will reflect “wellness,” “connection,” and a “soothing sense of order and peace”–the choice is a radical departure from strong hues like Marsala and vibrant ones like Turquoise and Honeysuckle.
As stated on their website’s announcement: “In many parts of the world we are experiencing a gender blur as it relates to fashion, which has in turn impacted color trends throughout all other areas of design. This more unilateral approach to color is coinciding with societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity, the consumer’s increased comfort with using color as a form of expression, 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.”
Characterizing their choice as a snapshot reflecting on current moods and attitudes, Pantone further elaborates on Rose Quartz as a persuasive/gentle tone conveying compassion and composure, while Serenity is meant to refer to the weightless and airy sky, conveying a sense of relaxation. Optimistic in its outlook and chiming in their own hopes for a more positive global trend towards order and peace.
