Pantone Color of the Year 2020: CLASSIC BLUE
Each year, the Pantone Color Institute announces a Color of the Year after careful research into lifestyle and industry trends. The floral industry follows these trends closely, to ensure we have the colors our customers will be asking for. In 2020, they are sure to be asking for the newest Pantone Color of the Year: Classic Blue.
Classic Blue reflects not only the new year, but the start of a new decade. It’s timeless, calming, elegant, and stable—qualities we all can appreciate in this era of constant technological change. The color reflects the sky at dusk, which evokes a sense of peace and tranquility, and the promise of a new day. What a perfect choice for these turbulent times.
Pantone’s Classic Blue was an interesting choice for another reason as well: Pantone launched the Color of the Year program 20 years ago in 1999 with another blue hue, Cerulean. At that time, Cerulean represented the excitement of a new millennium, while also being a calming counterpoint to the anxieties of Y2K. (Remember that? Seems like so long ago…)
In announcing the Color of the Year, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute said the following: “We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on. Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.”
As we enter a new year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on how far we have come and where we are headed. Classic Blue is the ideal color for this, and will be seen everywhere in 2020. Take advantage of this in your floral business: Create arrangements with blue hues and feature them on your website and in social media. Use the hashtags #Pantone2020 and #ClassicBlue to create more engagement. Feature Classic Blue in your wedding planning as it’s seasonless, genderless, and elegant; for ideas on how to do this, check out our wedding color trends article in this issue.
Pantone Classic Blue speaks to the endless possibilities the new year can bring. Here’s to a new year of wonderful possibilities for you, your family, and your floral business!