Pantone
A standardized colour matching system developed by the Pantone Colour Institute, used globally in fashion, graphic design, and product manufacturing to ensure color consistency across different materials and processes
Founded in the 1960s by Lawrence Herbert, Pantone revolutionized the colour industry by introducing the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Originally created for the printing industry, Pantone’s influence expanded into textiles, plastics, and digital design. Its precise, numbered color codes allowed for universal understanding and replication of hues, streamlining production across global industries.
In 2000, Pantone began selecting a “Colour of the Year,” a decision rooted in sociocultural analysis and forecasting. This initiative positioned Pantone as not only a technical authority but also a cultural barometer. For example, Honeysuckle was chosen in 2011 during an economic downturn, said to “lift our spirits” and counter stress. This tradition now influences consumer products, fashion lines, and interior design trends, demonstrating Pantone’s evolving relevance from industry tool to cultural influencer.
Pantone’s reach spans high fashion, consumer electronics, beauty, and home decor. The Colour of the Year becomes a design motif adopted by companies like Sephora, who have launched Pantone-inspired makeup lines, or Pantone x Uniqlo collaborations. In art and fashion education, Pantone chips are foundational learning tools.
Pantone has also become symbolic of design language itself. Pop culture recognizes Pantone numbers—such as “Pantone 17-5641” (Emerald)—as signifiers of style or mood. The color announcements are covered by major media, reflecting how consumers engage emotionally with color as storytelling. The annual selection process is seen as mysterious, even elite, elevating Pantone to mythic status in the design world.
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The Pantone Color of the Year is selected in a secret European meeting
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There’s a Pantone hotel in Brussels, Belgium, themed entirely in Pantone hues
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A fan once recreated all 1,867 Pantone colors using LEGO bricks!
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Some fashionistas can identify popular Pantone shades by number alone.
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“Pantone colors are a universal system for choosing and matching colors, kind of like a recipe book for shades. Designers, fashion brands, and product makers use it to speak the same “colour language.” Every year, Pantone picks a “Colour of the Year” to represent the world’s mood, which influences trends in fashion and beyond”
The Colour of the Year initiative has trended globally every December since 2000. When “Living Coral” (2019) was announced, it influenced collections by Marc Jacobs and appeared in tech gadgets and home decor. In 2016, Pantone broke precedent by choosing two shades—Rose Quartz and Serenity—highlighting gender fluidity themes. In 2021, amid pandemic fatigue, Illuminating (yellow) and Ultimate Gray symbolized resilience and hope.
Social media platforms see spikes in #PantoneColoroftheYear hashtags, and retailers rapidly adjust colour palettes. The annual reveal often forecasts upcoming fashion cycles, with runway collections, makeup palettes, and design campaigns echoing Pantone’s chosen hue.
Pantone has begun engaging in sustainability by partnering with eco-conscious brands. In 2023, Pantone partnered with Tealeaves to release – Colour of Biodiversity, drawing attention to ecological balance and biodiversity. Brands like Stella McCartney often reference Pantone hues while using recycled materials, demonstrating that color forecasting doesn’t need to compromise environmental values.
Pantone has also worked with companies like Adobe to include sustainability-themed palettes and mood boards. In fashion, the use of plant-based dyes to match Pantone hues (e.g., turmeric to match yellows) is becoming more popular. Practical sustainable strategies include:
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Using Pantone as a tool to standardize eco-dyes
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Limiting dye runs by using pre-chosen, seasonally-approved palettes
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Promoting digital color previews to reduce textile waste from sampling