Pantone Color of the Year: Understanding Its Impact on Fashion Design

Introduction of The Color Of the Year

The induction for color of the year dates back to 1999. In its inception, the premise of Pantone Color of the Year was to create an educational format to bridge the gap between colors and cultures. Creating this level of communication helps to bring in the community through artists, designers, and all other color enthusiasts. At its core, Pantone contributes to universal language through colors that can be used to make critical decisions throughout the various stages of a brand or manufacturing workflow process.

‘Color of The Year’ in itself is a trendsetter. Through research, the Pantone panel helps us set the tone through color communication. Pantone researchers take on the perspective of looking at each year objectively and choosing a distinct color that reflects the global culture. Inspiration for the new color influences is pulled from all things around us. The entertainment industry, travel destinations, films, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status, to name a few. Selection and research for color of the year takes about nine months. So much time is allotted to the Pantone color of the year choice because it is important that the emotional aspect takes precedence as well. What do the colors make us feel? The color of the year for 2023 is the bold and lovely ‘Viva Magenta!’

Pantone Color Connections

One of the main objectives of the Pantone color selection is to evoke emotions. In past years, some of the colors chosen have been Classic Blue (2020), Illuminating & Ultimate Grey (2021), and Very Peri (2022). While collectively, we may favor some colors over others, Pantone’s color of the year generates choices based on communication of the global culture at the time. In many ways, the color of the year colors reflects our global state. Each color represents its own dynamic personality, from the dullest to the brightest. For this reason, Pantone works to generate its expansive catalog of colors. In the fashion industry, colors are what moves us the most, aside from silhouettes.

For example, Pantone describes the color of the year for 2023 as ‘vibrating’ and bringing ‘vigor’ to the table. Announced in late December 2022, Viva Magenta is a descendant of the red family. Viva Magenta shows strength and duality. Emotionally, this breeds a certain perspective shift and determination within us, especially in a post-pandemic world.