What exactly is the “Pantone colour of the year” and why is it important for your company to know about it?

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Every year, market forecasters, advertisers, packaging material designers, manufacturers, and apparel designers around the globe eagerly wait for “Pantone Colour of the year”. Pantone LLC provides a universal language of colours based on certain standards set by the company that people and other organizations in different fields of designing and manufacturing especially where colour is an important part of production and market existence follow closely. Pantone provides insight after much research and analysis. They are already the pioneer of the field. Year after year, companies and consultants have found the authenticity of Pantone colours; hence, their suggestions in trending colour and colour psychology are unquestionable. When you are marketing a hoodie with a print or planning customized t-shirts for your team or school follow the Pantone colour concept for obtaining accurate hues you desire.

What do Pantone colours mean?

Pantone colours mean certain colour codes for different colour shares officially defined by Pantone. Each shade officially announced by Pantone has a distinct code. So, when you are mentioning a colour code to an apparel manufacturer in any part of the world, they instantly understand which particular colour shades you are mentioning. Whether you are working with a designer in England or India, that shade remains exactly the same. It’s like the biological names of plants or animals or scientific names of stars that don’t differ no matter in which part of the world you are, it doesn’t change.

If Pantone colours are followed, your customers get the exact shade they want. For better customer satisfaction and branding, you must follow the universal language of colours, i.e. Pantone colours.

TPX and TCX swatches for exact colour shades

Pantone guide has no alternative in the textile industry. The system they have developed over the decades enables the designers and manufacturers in this industry to work seamlessly. They have developed TPX and TCX swatches for the industry. At present, more than 15 million designers and manufacturers across the globe follow the Pantone colour guide and Pantone colour of the year. TPX stands for Textile Paper Extend where colour shades are represented on paper swatches. TCX stands for Textile Cotton Extends where colour shades are represented on cotton swatches. Both are standard colours but have their respective applications. TCX is generally used for reactive and disperse dying whereas TPX is used for standard printing purposes.

The Pantone Colour of the year

In 2000, Pantone began to announce “The colour of the year”. The colour of the year is announced after a secret meeting with several groups of colour standard setters in different countries. The meeting is held in an undisclosed location in Europe. The Cerulean Blue 15-4020 was the first-ever “Colour of the year”. In 2020, Pantone selected Classic blue 19-4052 as the colour of the year. The Pantone Colour Institute has announced two colours as the “colour of the year 2021”. These are 17-5104 Ultimate Grey and 13-0647 Illumination Yellow. According to the director of the institute, these colours are the symbols of spirit, fortitude, and positivity.

Whether it is a hoodie with print, sweatshirt, or a custom printed t-shirt, the colours of the year will satisfy the users with their vivacity. Companies in the textile industry follow Pantone colours for better connectivity with the clients.