MARSALA/ PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR

For the past 14 years, Pantone has identified a color that will most likely inspire the most influential designers and fashion enthusiasts. Many of us in the businesses of fashion, beauty, housewares, home and industrial design wait with eager anticipation to learn what color the Pantone Color Institute will select as the Color of the Year. Last year, 2014, it was a rich purple, Radiant Orchid. In 2013 it was Emerald Green. Both of these colors were strong with dramatic impact. This year Pantone has selected Marsala, a soft wine-inspired earthy color. According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, "It's a color that you can mix with what you already own. You can add just a touch of it. That's the intent and purpose. It is not the color that swallows the world." It will be interesting to see how designers choose to integrate this unusual color in new ways. It is a much less dramatic color than in the past years and works best when paired with neutrals like grey, brown, taupe, black and khaki. What is more interesting is to look at the entire 2015 Pantone color palette and see Marsala in context of the other colors. At Foot Traffic, we watch Pantone. As we do every year, we will look at the Color of the Year and see how it will work into our collections. We love color and are always interested in new ways to mix colors that best compliment men's and women's sock and legwear fashion and Marsala works with both. Pantone works hard to provide color selection tools that designers can use to communicate internationally with their manufacturers. We use Pantone services and appreciate how they have expedited color communication. Whether you agree or not with Marsala as the Color of the Year choice for 2015, it provides an opportunity to talk about color and offer a response. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MARSALA?