The preeminent authority on color has declared its verdict: “Peach Fuzz” reigns as the color of the year for 2024. Revealed on Thursday by the Pantone Color Institute, PANTONE® 13-1023 underscores our collective yearning for compassion and human connection in the upcoming year. As per the esteemed color consultancy, the singular hue capable of embodying these sentiments is described as “a velvety, gentle peach, whose inclusive spirit enhances the well-being of the mind, body, and heart.”
Color of the Year 2024: Peach Fuzz and the Journey to Connection
Peach Fuzz, characterized as a “velvety peach tone,” is intended to symbolize “our desire to nurture ourselves and others,” and its all-encompassing spirit enriches the mind, body, and soul, according to Pantone. Described by Pantone Furter as a “heartfelt peach hue” that evokes tenderness and conveys a message of caring, sharing, community, and collaboration, Peach Fuzz is more than just a color—it’s a representation of warmth and modern elegance that resonates with compassion. Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive director, explained the selection process, stating, “In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.”
While it might seem ambitious for a muted blend of pink and orange to soothe our fractured world, Eiseman emphasized, “Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and offers an opportunity for nurturing. Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing.”
Unpacking the Message of Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024
The Pantone Color Institute will celebrate its 25th year of declaring a color of the year in 2024. The significance of this milestone could account for the company’s choice to revisit the fundamentals with a timeless shade like peach. Pantone explains, “The hue chosen as our Pantone Color of the Year 2024 was carefully selected to articulate our yearning to be near our loved ones, the delight derived from tuning into our true selves, and the simple pleasure of relishing a moment of solitude. It had to be a color whose warm and inviting embrace communicated a profound message of compassion and empathy.”
The Color Institute stated, “The chosen Pantone Color of the Year 2024 was carefully selected to articulate the longing to be near loved ones and the joy derived from tuning into one’s true self, relishing moments of quiet solitude. It was essential for the color to exude a warm and inviting embrace, conveying a profound message of compassion and empathy.” According to Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone, the color chosen as the Pantone Color of the Year transcends specific regions or design sectors. It is a color that permeates all realms of design—an expression of consumers’ moods and attitudes. This selected color resonates globally, reflecting universal sentiments and addressing the collective needs and desires of people worldwide.
In contrast, the previous year saw the introduction of Viva Magenta accompanied by immersive AI-generated visuals. Although Viva Magenta felt like a fitting choice for 2023, aligning with the Barbiecore trend, the cultural connection for Peach Fuzz in 2024 isn’t as immediately apparent. In 2022 the color of the year was Very Peri. In 2021, the company somewhat deviated by selecting two colors.
Selecting the Color of the Year
In the annual process of selecting the color, the team of global color experts at the Pantone Color Institute explores the world for emerging color influences. Their search encompasses various sources, such as the entertainment industry, films in production, traveling art collections, emerging artists, and fashion trends. They also consider all realms of design, aspirational travel destinations, evolving lifestyles, playstyles, and pleasurable escapes.Additionally, they take into account socio-economic conditions. Influences extend to new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color. Additionally, they consider the influence of relevant social media platforms. The team also takes into account upcoming global sporting events that attract widespread attention.
“Our Pantone Color Institute team members come from a wide range of design, cultural, and geographical backgrounds. The commonality that brings them together is their expertise in color and design, and their ability to see the world through the lens of color. That’s why I liken them to being color anthropologists. They have this intuitive ability to connect all that is taking place in the world and translate it into the language of color,” the institute said.
The Ripple Effect: Pantone’s Industry-wide Influence
The colors selected by Pantone as the colors of the year play a pivotal role in influencing product development and shaping consumer decisions across various industries, including fashion, industrial and interior design, as well as product packaging.
Tech – Pantone X Motorola
This year’s unveiling includes an extensive array of branded merchandise featuring Peach Fuzz, ranging from carpets and cellphones to makeup. In collaboration with Pantone, Motorola has unveiled the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and Motorola Edge 40 Neo. Both the models showcase the color of the year for 2024. The company emphasizes the synergy between Pantone’s color expertise and Motorola’s iconic design. This collaboration is ushering in a new era of smartphones. These devices go beyond being mere tools; instead, they stand as artistic design innovations. Additionally, they establish groundbreaking benchmarks for meaningful connections between individuals.
Beauty – Shades by Shan & Pantone
Shades By Shan, a cosmetics company based in the Bay Area, has been designated as the exclusive beauty partner by Pantone for the introduction of The Lip Shine. Crafting this exclusive product aims to harmonize it with the Pantone Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz. The new collection plans to release several items in 2024. The Lip Shine takes the lead as its inaugural item.
Interiors Draped in Color of the Year 2024
In collaboration with Pantone, Spoonflower has joined forces to animate the Color of the Year 2024 through an exclusive launch collection available here. The assortment features original designs by Spoonflower artists Dani Dazey, Janine Lecour, and Holli Zollinger. The leading online platform for print-on-demand wallpaper, home decor, and fabric, Spoonflower is famous for showcasing creations from independent artists worldwide.
Fashion Forecast: Pantone’s 2024 Color Graces Runways Across Designers
The hue is already making its presence felt on fashion runways as various designers showcase it in their 2024 collections. The more affordable Sportmax line, in line with Max Mara’s tradition, presented the color through a sculptural column dress. Meanwhile, the high-fashion label Roksanda took an elegant approach. They incorporated the peach shade into a flowing silk dress showcased at the London Fashion Week.
In his spring 2024 collection for Denzilpatrick, London-based designer Daniel Gayle featured a suit in the specified shade.
In the Milan Fashion Week showcase, Missoni, the Italian fashion house, incorporated the color of the year into its spring 2024 collection. The hue appeared in sections within the brand’s distinctive zig-zag pattern. It also featured as a whole in the design of elegant dresses.
Social Media Buzz: Mixed Reactions to Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024
The selection received widespread support on social media, with many users praising it for its beauty and refreshing quality. However, there were dissenting voices, as some criticized the color as dull, out-of-touch, and unflattering. Some even engaged in discussions questioning why green was not chosen as the color of the year 2024 instead. A comment on Pantone’s Instagram post exclaimed, “Optimistic choice for the upcoming new era!” Another user expressed, “I love this color and everything it symbolizes.” On Social Media Platform X, a user described the selection as warm and elegant.
However, a notable trend in the comments suggests that many were anticipating, and even hoping for, a green-themed year. Subway, the multinational franchise, joined the discussion on Pantone’s Instagram post, humorously remarking, “Another year of green getting snubbed.” In a playful jest, one critique humorously labeled the peach as “a remarkably democratic shade, given that it doesn’t flatter anyone.” One user expressed, “Really felt like it needed to be a green,” while another, in apparent surprise, commented, “Kinda shocked, to be honest… was rooting for a green shade this year.” Another user shared, “At least it coordinates with a deep green or a steely green, but it feels like the people needed the hope, regrowth, and steadfastness that come with a green year.” A user on Social Media Platform X shared their expectations for the Color of the Year to be either blue or green.
The Year Ahead
Pantone’s declaration of “Peach Fuzz” as the Color of the Year 2024 holds symbolic significance. It represents compassion and connection, reflecting a deeper yearning for warmth and empathy in the coming year. The influence of Pantone extends beyond aesthetics, shaping product development, fashion trends, and even technological innovations. Whether met with enthusiasm or critique, Pantone’s color selection serves as a vibrant reflection. It reflects the ever-evolving interplay between color, culture, and collective aspirations. The journey of this chosen hue promises to be dynamic and inspiring. It is a chapter in the evolving narrative of color trends.
