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Color Update: Combinations Matter As Much As Hues; JCOC Says Consumers Want Color In Jewelry July 23, 2014 (0 comments)
Merrick, NY—Both Radiant Orchid, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2014, and Emerald, the institute’s choice for 2013, were a boon for jewelers. Both are easy to find in gemstones, and both hues are easy to wear for many women. Orange and yellow tones like Tangerine Tango (2012), Mimosa (2009), or Tigerlily (2004) are a little tougher: both are harder shades to match for many women.
But the latest report from trend forecaster WGSN says color trends often are about new combinations of colors, not necessarily new colors themselves.
For 2015-2016, WGSN is looking ahead to new (or previously unseen) combinations of colors, especially those that are in between pastels and brights, and with an emphasis on pinks and reds and cool blues.
Two rising color combo trends the company identifies are “Soft Pop” and “Eco Active.” Soft Pop is a blend of kitsch and modern, with a happy palette of bright pastels and warm neutrals, tinted black and white, and bold mid-tones. The “in-between” message is emphasized with “not-quite-pastel” and “not-quite-bright” shades of cool blue, peppermint, custard, and geranium, with accents of jasmine and newsprint. The key colors are geranium and power pink offset by tan earth tones.
Soft Pop features soft mid-tone colors.
Eco Active, meanwhile, is the tug between nature and technology, expressed in the green and brown tones of nature vs. bright red-orange or pool-blue tones that scream high-tech. This palette is trans-seasonal. Also look for strong yellows, which when combined with black and white gives off a strong sports vibe, and look for metallics, which explore the raw and elemental. Key are aged bronze, hematite, and matte gold—all of which are likely to have some presence at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
The Eco-Active trend blends earth tones with sporty brights.
Separately, the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council recently identified color as one of the two key trends that consumers are seeking in fine jewelry. Consumers have embraced more color in both their wardrobes and their home décor, and that desire is crossing over into jewelry, says Liz Chatelain of JCOC in a special video report. Branded jewelry is the other trend consumers are becoming aware of and seeking.