It's the first time Pantone is releasing two colors of the year for 2016, and there's a special reason behind the choice. The color authority unveiled the colors' names as "Rose Quartz" and "Serenity" Wednesday.
The soft pastel shades are apparently symbolic. It's "a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude," said Pantone in a statement.
"Rose Quartz," with its soft pink hues, and "Serenity," with its cool and tranquil blue shades, are colors that indicate how society is becoming more aware of the "gender blur."
"This more unilateral approach to color is coinciding with societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity, the consumer's increased comfort with using color as a form of expression, a generation that has less concern about being typecast or judged and an open exchange of digital information that has opened our eyes to different approaches to color usage," the statement said.
"Rose Quartz" also represents "compassion and a sense of composure," while "Serenity" delivers balance and "feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times."
The institution usually chooses the year's color based on fashion and pop culture trends, according to CNN. By polling decorators, designers, retailers and manufacturers on the colors they plan on using for the coming year, Pantone is able to determine the most dominant colors and tips its marketing partners, per Wall Street Journal. The two-color choice is reportedly a great idea from a business perspective. "It's two colors, so it's an opportunity to make extra combinations," said Pantone's executive director Leatrice Eiseman.
In 2015, Pantone chose "Marsala" as the color of the year. Its rich wine and maroon hue represented "the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness," the institution said, according to Fortune.
