PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2021
Every year, Pantone selects a color to honor as their color of the year. Known as the color experts, Pantone is recognized and highly respected as the standard source for color specialists. The color of the year chosen has a monumental influence across all creative industries including fashion and interior design. The highlighted color sets the trend as a focus for what will be the most popular color palette in clothing and home décor for the year. Taking that inspiration, you will then see it showing up on the runways and in stores everywhere.
The infamous color is announced annually in December for the following year. Its inception began back in 2000 at the start of the millennium. Usually, a single shade is bestowed this fame. However, for 2021 a duo has been presented for only the second time in history. One of these colors is also a pigment lacking chroma, a first for the list of swatches.
As a harmonious pair, Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray have been introduced to us as 2021’s Colors of the Year. The color scheme contains a warm yellow that is a bright and cheerful shade while its counterpart is a grounding neutral. This complimentary combo blends beautifully together to create a balance that is both fun and practical. This is a stark contrast from last year’s color, the calming tone of Classic Blue (2020).
Classic Blue
Pantone Color of the Year 2020
It is no coincidence that the authority on color has determined these hues to be presented as a forecast for the future. Color is proven to have a psychological and emotional effect on the mind. That is clearly interpreted here with a juxtaposition of positivity represented by the yellow along with stability represented as gray. We can all relate to that mood after the events of 2020 and need to look forward to better days ahead. Pantone is quoted saying this match-up “expresses a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting; one of strength and positivity. It is a story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly. A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combinationUltimate Gray + Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope. We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit.”
We love Pantone’s pick for the 2021 Colors of the Year and couldn’t agree more!
