Pantone Color of the Year is an annual color trend forecast selected by the Pantone Color Institute, influencing fashion, design, beauty, and marketing. The hashtag documents each year’s selection and the cultural conversations around color symbolism.

Notable Selections

2013: Emerald (17-5641)

• Lush, elegant green
• Symbol of growth and prosperity

2014: Radiant Orchid (18-3224)

• Purple-pink hybrid
• Whimsical, creative energy

2015: Marsala (18-1438)

• Earthy wine red
• Sophisticated, natural

2016: Rose Quartz & Serenity (13-1520 / 15-3919)

• First dual-color year
• Pink and blue together
• Gender fluidity symbolism

2017: Greenery (15-0343)

• Bright yellow-green
• Nature, fresh starts, environmental awareness

2018: Ultra Violet (18-3838)

• Deep purple
• Cosmic, imaginative, non-conformist

2019: Living Coral (16-1546)

• Warm orange-pink
• Ocean conservation awareness
• Optimistic, life-affirming

2020: Classic Blue (19-4052)

• Calm, stable navy
• Pre-pandemic selection felt prescient

2021: Ultimate Gray & Illuminating (17-5104 / 13-0647)

• Gray and yellow
• Strength and optimism
• Pandemic resilience

2022: Very Peri (17-3938)

• Purple-blue with violet-red undertones
• First new color Pantone created for COTY
• Digital world, transformation

2023: Viva Magenta (18-1750)

• Bold, vibrant crimson
• Nature-inspired, unconventional
• Brave and fearless

2024: Peach Fuzz (13-1023)

• Soft peach
• Nurturing, gentle, cozy
• Post-pandemic softness

Industry Impact

The announcement triggers:

• Fashion collections incorporating the color
• Beauty brands launching matching products (lipsticks, nail polish, eyeshadow)
• Home decor trends
• Graphic design and branding shifts
• Wedding color schemes

Marketing Phenomenon

Pantone’s COTY is essentially product placement:

• The announcement itself is a media event
• Brands pay for licensing
• Pantone merchandises the color (mugs, phone cases, etc.)
• Free publicity for Pantone’s color matching system

Criticism

• Self-fulfilling prophecy: Does Pantone predict or create trends?
• Commercial influence: Corporate partnerships shape selections
• Eurocentrism: Color symbolism varies across cultures
• Overhyped: Not everyone follows the decree

Cultural Conversations

Each year sparks debates:

• Color psychology analysis
• Political symbolism readings
• “This color is ugly” discourse
• Previous years’ accuracy assessments

Meme Culture

Pantone parodies include:

• “2020: Dumpster Fire Orange”
• “2021: Zoom Fatigue Gray”
• Custom Pantone memes for life moments

The hashtag blend serious design industry content with playful cultural commentary.

https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year https://www.vogue.com/