More about color.....

I recently took part in a Pantone webinar and learned about the spring/summer 2011 color forecast.  The palettes are very similar to the Leatrice Eiseman presentation I attended a few weeks ago.  For me, and maybe for you, it's important to reiterate the many and varied influences on the palettes for the upcoming seasons:

• Environmental Preservation - 70% of consumers support companies dedicated to preservation of the environment
• Plastics - reuses of it in new, unusual ways  - see some of Anthropologie's window displays fashioned from recycled plastic
• Sustainability
• "Re" words - Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse
• Wellness and de-stressing
• Food, in particular the fresh, wonderful items found in local farmer's markets
• Africa - its colors and textures will be more and more evident
• Anime - the super vivid colors will translate to products

So, what I'm taking from all of this is that greens will become a staple for a neutral palette; brights are here to stay for a while;  calm, muted tones will be important, too; warm tones and interesting textures will be strong; and metallics in paint and fabric will be huge!