Turquoise Named 2010 Color of the Year
Already bored with winter white? Good news. Color is certainly in for the new year — namely turquoise and purples — according to design industry groups.
Pantone, a major provider of professional color standards for the design industries, has named turquoise its “color of the year” for 2010. The color evokes tropical escape and serenity, according to Pantone’s experts.
“It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute in a release. “Through years of color word- association studies, we also find that turquoise represents an escape to many — taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”
This means you’ll see more turquoise in fashion, jewelry, paints, furniture and home accessories. Some stores are already on trend.
But another of last year’s most popular colors — purple — is still very much on the palette. Pantone 2009’s color was mimosa — a color reminiscent of the fruity breakfast beverage — and in 2008, it chose blue iris, sparking the purple craze.
Another design color-setting group, Color Marketing Group, is calling Mardi Grape its color for 2010.
“Mardi Grape is a sophisticated crossover between purple, brown and gray. It’s a transfer from fashion with European roots. Mardi Grape used to be a fashion color. Now, it’s all set to be the year’s biggest star for everything else,” according to its news release.
But using purple as a neutral is the emerging trend.
“Purple has been with us for a while now, but the big story today is that we’re seeing purple as a neutral for the very first time,” said CMG President James Martin. “This purple is browner and grayer, a neutral we can love long-term. These days everyone is seeking versatile colors with staying power. Today, neutrals are the lead performers, chameleon colors that shift and change.”
Color Marketing Group’s hot colors for 2010:
Red: Reds are strong with pink intuition; bright and clean with energy and excitement — a clean pop to go with neutrals.
Orange: A rich, sophisticated color that moves away from earth- based colors to an optimistic orange, seasoned with a touch of gray.
Yellow: A greener, more natural yellow, softened with gray.
Green: Optimistic and uplifting, a clear and bright accent green with a slight shift toward blue.
Blue: A saturated blue with gray influences; rich without being too luxe.
Beige-Brown: A true chameleon to complement darker hues, it can be either matte or metallic.
Neutral-Gray: Gray with a touch of purple, drawing inspiration from mineral, concrete and steel.
(original source: artbistro)
