Color of the Year 2013: Emerald

My sister, Robin Wagner, is a clothing designer specializing in knitwear. She’s alerted me to color forecasting, an important concept in her field, and the industry of color forecasting. Designers may pay to subscribe to a service that determines what the trendy colors for future seasons will be. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember the flood of Harvest Gold and Avocado appliances that parents handed down (by then well OVER these colors) for your college apartment? Remember the summer season in fashion when so much was safety orange or chartreuse? Looked great it you had a dark tan, but otherwise questionable. These are the effects of color forecasting in industry. The forecasts come out well in advance so that designers can work on palettes – color stories – for their lines.

Pantone, the color people who set standards for color-matching in industry has declared the Color of the Year 2013 is Emerald. See the link for examples and more info. This looks like a good year for modified chrome greens in ceramics. Pantone says:

“Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty                                                                        that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.”
PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, a lively, radiant, lush green, is the Color of the Year for 2013.

Published
Categorized as Color

By arbuck

Potter, Professor Emerita, Ceramics at University of FL, Gainesville.

2 comments

  1. I think both last year’s color, Tangarine Tango, and 2013’s Emerald may show up a lot of places, but may be a hard sell. Pantone’s color is more of a deep Bermuda or mint green than an emerald color.

    Getting ready for Chile. I hate packing, though. It will be a wonderful adventure with great people to meet. Working on finding my power adapters.

    Boxing Day! Thanks for the wishes. And to you!

  2. Emerald! So much better than tangerine, which is terrific in small doses but……..

    You must be in countdown mode at this point. Enjoy your travels.

    Happy Boxing Day! 🙂

Leave a Reply