Pantone names Greenery colour of the year

In recent years, Pantone has named a rose quartz, a tranquil blue, an earthy wine red, as well as a radiant orchid as colour of the year, for 2017 the colour specialists have picked Greenery, a “refreshing and revitalising shade” that it says is symbolic of new beginnings to serves as an expression of the current global mood.

The fresh and zesty yellow-green shade it states evokes the first days of spring when “nature’s greens revive, restore and renew” and the attributes of the revitalising shade signals that consumers are looking to 2017 to take a “deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate”.

Pantone Color Institute, executive director Leatrice Eiseman said: “While Serenity and Rose Quartz, the Pantone Color of the Year 2016, expressed the need for harmony in a chaotic world. Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate, revitalise and unite, Greenery symbolises the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”

Described as a “life-affirming shade”, Greenery is nature’s neutral and is emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality, while also being a versatile “tran-seasonal” shade that lends itself to many colour combinations, as seen in the recent collections from Kenzo, Michael Kors, Zac Posen, and Cynthia Rowley.

“The tangy yellow-green speaks to our desire to express, explore, experiment and reinvent, imparting a sense of buoyancy,” explains Eiseman. “Through its reassuring yet assertive vibrancy, Greenery offers us self-assurance and boldness to live life on our own terms, during a time when we are redefining what makes us successful and happy.”

Pantone opts for a “life-affirming” green hue as 2017 colour

One of the major spring/summer 2017 themes was botanical with Greenery providing a pop of colour in accessories and footwear, as well as acting as a bold accent in a pattern for both women and men, as well as in childrenswear. The green hue has also been a prominent colour for wearables and activewear.

The leafy green colour was prominent in a number of catwalk collections including Balenciaga and its horticultural-themed prints, Emilio Pucci, Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. It is probably because the versatile shade works well with last year’s colours Serenity and Rose Quartz and other transitional colours, as well as with more ethereal earthy tones, vibrant hues, and calm colour palettes.

For 17 years, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. The last time a green shade was named colour of the year was in 2013 with emerald, a lively, radiant colour that enhanced wellbeing, balance and harmony.

Image: Catwalkpictures