Meet 350+ Suppliers. Find New Products. Source Inventory. All at ASI Show Chicago, July 23-25.   Register Now.

Strategy

Slideshow: Pantone’s Colors of the Year

Pantone steers the direction on color usage in everything from fashion to interior design, and this year its Colors of the Year are a decided left turn. That’s right – colors. In a break from tradition, Pantone has chosen two shades and paired them together: Rose Quartz and Serenity.

“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 as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

The choices are also a departure from the string of bright colors that Pantone has tabbed previously for its Color of the Year. The color authority hadn’t selected a true neutral in a decade, since its choice of Sand Dollar in 2006. It reflects a shift in fashion tastes, which became infatuated with brights and neons over the past few years. Pantone also noted the choice reflects “a gender blur as it relates to fashion” with an emphasis on gender equality in society.

To capture this trend, there are plenty of products available in this industry – lighter pinks, rich blues and calming lavenders and purples that bridge the gap between the two when blended. Here are some top available choices: