Color authority Pantone has introduced 210 additional colors to its current selection of shades and tones, used across the world's textiles for fashion and the home.
Pantone used trend intelligence - along with consumer and client color research from the Pantone Color Institute - to develop the enhanced shade selection. The addition of the new shades brings the total selection to 2,310 colors.
“The colors that are influencing design today have evolved to reflect shifting societal views, new technological innovations and a truly global outlook,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
“With the ability to interpret the influence of color on overall consumer psychology, we have enhanced the utility of our color system to enable the design community to stay on the cutting edge of color selection.”
The new colors, Pantone said, focus on areas of significant market needs, addressing evolving consumer tastes.
“With the advent of fast fashion, and continued pressure on shortening product manufacturing cycles, Pantone’s off-the-shelf color system with immediate, global availability is more relevant and economical than ever before,” stated Mitchell Cole, Global Director of Marketing for Pantone.
So, what are the major color additions?
The orange family was expanded to include hot and radiant tones, as well as spicy, deeper and more golden oranges, highlighting consumers' penchant for the warmer color again after years of neglect. More 'intense' blacks have been identified - from Black Beauty to Onyx - as the minimal, muted and monochrome trend continues to dominant fashion and interiors collections.
Blues have become more "nuanced", looking to more watery, vibrant aquamarine blues, along with chambray blues (pushed by denim's popularity) and new takes on classic navies - perfect for men's suiting.
The increasing appeal of pink has led to the addition of a variety of pinks, said Pantone, spanning from softer rosier shades, such as Love Potion, to more vibrant hues like Pink Peacock.
Reds are feeling sexier, while yellow has expanded into more orange yellow hues, and true yellows that look exotic; exemplifying the trend for eastern travels.
New brown shades reflect "earth-driven and organic movements", while green has grown to both "natural" and "synthetic" tones.
As purple hues continue to rise in popularity, the new range includes vibrant red-based purples, an array of softer mid tones. Finally, neutrals and whites were expanded in warm and cool tones, said Pantone.
The new colors were developed in conjunction with Huntsman Textile Effects.