Fire Mountain Gems and Beads has partnered with Pantone, the world's color authority, to provide their expert color forecasts. The PANTONE® Fall/Winter 2011-2012 color trends are below.
We rely on the bright light of technology to simplify our lives with direct, effective, logical options. Man-made colors signal the presence of scientific optimism, and these resolute colors cast aside doubt and hesitation.
The palette hinges on aurora, apple green, dazzling blue and jelly bean, which harness all the reassuring and buoyant aspects of technology. They gleam confidently forward, demanding attention and promising immediate satisfaction.
Orchid hush, fuchsia rose and hyacinth violet provide happy contrast to the major brights in the palette. Pairing opposites like orchid hush and aurora--or fuchsia rose and apple green--induces sunny feelings.
Shaded spruce, twilight blue and blue graphite provide structure and stability: scientific solutions must be dependable, after all.
All colors in the palette could be rendered in metallic format (dull or fully reflective) for optimal scientific brilliance.
It's not enough to survive or even to control: we want to understand, too. Formal religion has lost some of its luster in recent years--but spiritual inquiry continues. Individualistic contemplation leaves behind stained glass and prayer books and looks towards the most ancient spirituality we know of: fire worship.
Copper, apricot orange, golden apricot, sun orange, burnt ochre and aurora red capture the colors of fire--treasured for warmth, a sense of protection and the promise of enlightenment. Smoke pine and red mahogany promise life and health. Brown stone and licorice hint at what Is left when the fire goes out: dirt and soot.
If you don't know your history, your future cannot be bright. So we look to historic dramas of love and conflict to help us see our present in a different light. A generous dusting of gold, especially when layered over reds and plums, brings old glories to the fore--and reminds us that there was a time before machines. A time when things looked beautiful because they were made by skilled hands, each with their own histories. Nuance and subtlety are part of the picture here.
A trio of reds establishes the romance palette. Persian red, with its hint of blue, brings a sense of mystery and passion. Ribbon red's clearer tone speaks of riches and power. And chili pepper's warm personality encourages warmth and comfort. Layered over and around the reds, champagne beige and pale gold become luxurious neutrals. Traditional neutrals of wind chime, jet black and turkish coffee are equally sumptuous in their own ways.
Burlwood and plum wine bring layers of unexpected feeling to the palette. Are they serious or sexy? It depends on the way they are combined. Kombu green can be as bold and important as the reds, but is to be used sparingly like precious serpentine jade.
PANTONE® and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC. The PANTONE reference numbers shown represent the PANTONE Colors most closely related to the color of the products. Printed and on screen color reproduction may not match PANTONE-identified color standards.
Used with the permission of Pantone LLC.