Marsala: Pantone's 2015 Color Trend Plays On Textiles

“Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability,” writes Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute. “Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth.” It was with these words that Eiseman named Marsala the Pantone Color of the Year for 2015. A dirty, deep red, Marsala takes its name from a Sicilian wine of the name same. The drunken hue embodies the “richness of a fulfilling meal… and a sophisticated, natural earthiness” according to Pantone.  From fashion to interiors, Marsala is predestined to be the new black in 2015. A big part of Marsala's appeal is its versatility. It’s neither masculine nor feminine, and doesn’t favor fashion over home furnishings and fabrics. Its warmth creates a cosiness for winter and the wine-ish tone evokes longings for leisurely summer nights au terrace. Marsala embodies luxury moods as a sheeny silk and carries the earthly ground in wool and linen. Marsala has proved a hit on the SS15 and FW15 runways with fashion designers Daniel Silverstain, Hervé Léger by Max Azria and Dennis Basso playing out the color in their collections. Marsala stands strong on its own as an alternative to navy or black and is a team player, bringing out the best in neutrals such as taupe and gray. With the print trend continuing its furore, Marsala has been coined the soil to the flowers; one in which the floral print - planted onto the Marsala bed – can vibrantly flourish with its petals in amber, turquoise and blue. The organic nature of Marsala also makes it a go-to hue for leather goods and suede, working across bags, clutches and folios, as well as boots and shoes. For the home ,“Marsala is a natural fit for the kitchen and dining room – making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens throughout the home,” states Pantone. Last week, Pantone added to its color forecast, highlighting the trends for the interiors marketplace in 2016. Dubbed Pantone View, the report delivered nine key palettes to watch for, plus individual color and material direction for designers.According to Pantone View, the nine palettes for 2016 are: Natural Forms: Shades that are plumbed from natural sources such as warm rosy clay and sheepskin beigeDichotomy: Opposites do and can attract as silver metallic, sunny yellow and bright cobalt blue combine with calmer versions of the hues Ephemera: Pastel-focused, the palette blends delicate shades of wan blue, pale peach and tender yellow Lineage: A palette where shades of navy, black, tan and regimental green co-mingle with touches of brighter colors Soft Focus: Reveals subtle and/or muted colors, sometimes “smoky” – always versatile Bijoux: A palette full of drama and intensity across many jewel tones Merriment: A range of joyful shades, including vibrant greens and yellows contrasted with pinks and oranges Footloose: Capricious color combinations with vacation-destination blues and blue-greens create a palette for simply enjoying the freedom of life and the outdoors Mixed Bag: An assortment of eclectic patterns and prints with exciting and unique colors like pirate black and mandarin red as well as violet and florid orange. “As media continue to move toward more evocative, imaginative and innovative uses of color to woo consumers, unexpected color stories are emerging,” said Eiseman, when describing Pantone’s color predictions for both 2015 and 2016.  “To capture attention and keep product lines relevant in the consumer’s eye, it’s important to understand the impact that this always-morphing innovation will have on color and design trends.”