Honey of a Color - Pantone Color of the Year 2011

Meant to ...“bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer”, Pantone LLC the global authority on color has announced next year’s feature color.

Honeysuckle (Pantone 18-2120) takes its name from the deciduous (sometimes evergreen) climber and or vine. About 180 species are known to exist mainly in the Northern Hemisphere with China taking the lead in being home to over 100 of them.

Pantone appears to have been inspired by the reddish-pink unopened blossom of honeysuckle variety Lonicera periclymenum. Not unlike the hummingbirds that are attracted to the nectar of the flower, Pantone anticipates public reaction to be just as receptive to this hue which aspires to ...“instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.”

It will be interesting to see if this color makes its way into mainstream fashion beyond the makeup blushes, women's apparel and accessories. I for one wouldn’t mind seeing men take up the baton for this eye-catching shade beyond the safe tie. How about some socks or a pocket square to match, emblazoned with this commanding chroma?

Frappuccinos Minus Bugs

The vegan community can rejoice today. Starbucks will no longer use cochineal ( koch-i-neel ) extract in their Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino® and Strawberry Banana Smoothie. Other products such Raspberry Swirl Cake, Birthday Cake Pop, Mini Doughnut with pink icing, and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie will continue to be produced with the ingredient until June of this year. The tip-off that lead to an online post (hosted by the website thisdishisvegetarian.com ) was given last month by a barista working at a midwest Starbucks. A petition was posted on change.org and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) also joined the fray to show their support. All aforementioned parties later applauded the policy change today on their respective blogs. Fleeting as some stories are, time will be the final judge on whether this story has any lasting impression on consumers. Approved by the FDA , cochineal has a long and illustrious history . With a positive nod toward social respons...

Making a Color Exclusive

Logos, slogans, and colors, become synonymous with a product, company, cause or sports team over time. Studies to support consumer driven responses to color are constantly being monitored by the marketplace to maximize data on current and future color trends. Because color can stand independently of words, it is capable of being recognized on its own —devoid of any reinforced logo or text. With this in mind, should an organization strive to protect their color assets through trademark? Not unlike a logo or company slogan, colors can also be protected under the umbrella of trademark. But can these measures extend to the name of a color as well? Syracuse University filed a federal trademark for the exclusive rights to the word “orange”. From the university’s perspective it was a logical move toward protecting their sports team name (which in 2004 had been edited down from “Orangemen” to simply “ Orange ”). Even though the official filing was done in 2006, several colleges have ...

Colors: What They Mean and How To Make Them

It would appear on first glance at this book’s title, that it is a “how-to” text for the hobbyist or textile artist on dye recipes. Some information is given on where pigments are derived from; how to use sources on where to find and create pigments for dying fabric. The real value of the book is not in the recipes but in the cultural history of the pigment sources and the meanings of color, all packaged in a beautifully designed book. Each thought-out chapter highlights a color and is illustrated with photos and fine art reproductions to reinforce the text. Not book for color theorists–but offers a good general survey of color and it's uses throughout the centuries. Written and (visually) presented to hold the reader's attention with interesting facts without overwhelming. Colors: What They Mean and How to Make Them by Anne Varichon

All Color Matters

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