2017 Pantone Color Of The Year: Greenery

Pantone’s color of the year is more than just a prediction about what color will be popular on the runway. It’s also a comment on the current state of the world.

Greenery (Pantone 15-0343), 2017’s color of the year, feels appropriate for so many reasons.

Disconnecting

As our technology advances at faster and faster rates, people crave a return to nature and “the simple life” to remain connected to the earth. This can be seen through the popularity of nature-centric travel, outdoor sports like hiking, and retreats in remote regions for yoga or rejuvenation. This color symbolizes the need to disconnect from technology at times, and return to our roots in Mother Nature.

Pantone even partnered with Airbnb to create a nature experience that is inspired by this plant-based color.

Environmentalism

Going hand in hand with this return to nature, is the green movement. This isn’t a new concept, but environmental protection has now become part of the mainstream, as many of the biggest brands advertise their environmental-friendly or sustainable business practices.

Cultural Climate

This yellow-tinted green also symbolizes Spring, new life, and a fresh start. In these rocky political and social times, people are connecting with the idea of starting over and moving past our divided political and social groups.

Back to Basics

Humans, as a species, have always had a strong connection with the color green, stemming from our time as hunters & gatherers. Since people needed to differentiate between which plants were good to eat and which weren’t, we developed the ability to see more shades of green than any other color. This holds true today.

Pantone calls green “nature’s neutral” and this color is meant to convey minimalism and returning back to basics.

In Fashion

Since being named the color of the year, this fresh green has popped up on the lines of some of the biggest designers like Gucci, Balenciaga, Michael Kors and Cynthia Rowley.

While this shade of green is often worn in the Spring and Summer when people are feeling most connected with nature, Pantone is encouraging people to wear it as a statement color all year long.