Every December, the Pantone Color Institute (known as the “global color authority”) selects a Color of the Year that not only influences design and fashion industries, but also captures the spirit of the times. Pantone has once again hit a perfect note with their 2018 Color of the Year: Ultra Violet – a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade. Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking that points us to the future. According to Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, the ultra violet color represents a true reflection of what’s needed in our world today.
Now that Pantone has announced the color of the year, it is certainly worth looking at what colors are expected to trend next year. Keeping in touch with market trends will help flower businesses predict their customer’s demands, especially for high volume order times like Valentine’s Day and wedding season.
On the “trending colors” for 2018, experts agree that millennial pink is here to stay. This popular light shade of blush most closely resembles “rose pink” in the flower world, but the definition has broadened to include a wider range of shades. From lighter neutrals to brighter summer hues, millennial pink is a common choice for retail packaging, makeup palettes, accessories, and home décor.
This particular shade takes on a more social context, as it is a less feminine pink that rebrands the color in a more thoughtful and mature way. Millennial pink speaks to a generation that strives for gender equality and questions traditional norms, redefining womanhood and femininity.
Similarly, iridescence is irresistible. According to Pantene Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman, the human eye can’t avoid anything or translucent. In the same vein, eye-catching metallics in more neutral tones are expected to remain popular.
Finally, bold colors are expected to take over. Eiseman predicts a move away from pastels and toward more intense colors, which reflect our more intense lifestyles and thought processes.
These are all great colors to keep in mind when planning signature arrangement, marketing designs, and social media campaigns for 2018!
