THE PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR: VERY PERI

BY CARLY WOOLLARD

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The Pantone color of the year for 2022 is Very Peri and I could not be more excited. Get ready to see this gorgeous lilac-periwinkle color popping up all around you, if you haven’t noticed already. 

 Up until 2020 and the hype surrounding the color Classic Blue, I had no clue what the Pantone color of the year even meant. After seeing references to the color on social media, I began to notice just how much this shade of blue was popping up everywhere. From the clothes in Urban Outfitters, to the pictures in my feed on Pinterest, and even in Architectural Digest; I began to understand the influence that Pantone’s color of the year holds in the world of fashion and design. This year is already showing hues of purple seemingly everywhere I look. Prom and formal dress season is just around the corner and evidently, Very Peri and all its variations are making a colorful appearance. 

The history of the Pantone color of the year is actually a topic I have found to be very interesting. My research has given me a sense of understanding in regard to why it’s even significant. The amount of thought and the science that goes into even choosing the color is honestly astonishing. Pantone’s so-called “color experts” examine the world around them to help them determine what each year’s color should be. They look to global events, societal trends, and even new technology to incite inspiration for what the future of color holds. This gives them the tools they need to best predict and inspire the creative community. ​

To say the least, the Pantone color of the year is certainly not haphazardly picked, or simply pulled out of a hat (as some may like to think). It is consciously chosen through extensive research and a touch of creativity. ​

What is so intriguing to me about the color of the year, is the patterns that often times follow suit shortly after it is released. Before I even googled what the new Pantone color was, there were hints of- surely enough- Very Peri popping up right before my very eyes. So, next time your scrolling through Instagram, Pinterest, or any of your favorite online shopping platform’s, take note of how many variations of purple you see. It’s almost as if it was the color of the year… ​