Pantone Colour of the Year: 2020.
‘A sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit’.
As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colours that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the trusted PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.
- Pantone
As soon as I saw the Pantone Colour of The Year 2020 and the graphics associated with it, I loved it!
It wasn’t a primary blue, or a navy. It didn’t feel too ‘safe’ or obvious either. I immediately saw how it could be applied onto clothing. New denim washes, diaphanous blouses, floral print bases, knitwear, metallic fabrications… this colour was just so versatile! I also feel it acts as a fantastic complimentary colour, just like how jeans go with pretty much everything.
I immediately thought of this group shot consisting of some of the beautiful pieces in Tibi’s Resort 2020 collection which really showcases the versatility of ‘Classic Blue’.
The interesting thing though, is when I was trend forecasting and compiling the key colours that came through the 2020 catwalk shows (both Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter), I didn’t feel I saw much of this shade of blue (not enough to rate it as a key colour in Fashion), they were more intense and saturated. Although, while working in the industry as a designer, not once did we explore/care for ‘Pantone trends’, we only used Pantone to communicate colours we wanted to use for suppliers to match to. (I am personally interested in what they say, though.)
Nevertheless, Pantone’s Colour of the Year isn’t reserved just for Fashion but for everything, since it takes into consideration SO many factors! So, it’s really important to consider all options when deciding what shade of a colour you choose to use in your designs and if you seek longevity or short term trends.
Images courtesy of Vogue.com