Pantone Color of the Year 2021

January 08, 2021

Pantone Color of the Year 2021

PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray
+ PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating

“A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.” -PANTONE

Pantone's 2021 Color of the Year is here, but wait for it…this year it's a color combo! That's right: Two shades have been named the Colors of the Year, and they complement each other seamlessly. "Illuminating," a bright, punchy yellow, and "Ultimate Gray," a classic, saturated gray, are two very different shades that come together to support each other, making something even more beautiful as a result.

As for the company's reason for a color combination? One hue simply couldn't define all of the experiences from 2020 that will inevitably impact 2021, their team explains. "No one color could get across the meaning of the moment," Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, told the New York Times. "We all realized we cannot do this alone. We all have a deeper understanding of how we need each other and emotional support and hope."

PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating

Meet Illuminating, a bright and cheerful yellow that sparkles with liveliness. It’s the warm shade of sunny days, bright flowers, and welcomed hope at the start of something new — a new chapter, a new year, or a new outlook.

PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray

Ultimate Gray, solid and dependable, builds a firm foundation of calm and security. It’s the color of warm blankets, favorite sweaters, and natural. Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness, and resilience.

Colors United

Illuminating and Ultimate Gray together create an excellent contrast — and that’s the appeal. The two colors make for a bold statement; friendly Illuminating, together with quietly assuring Ultimate Gray, is certainly a combo that demands attention.

NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?

With this great hues on our minds, we’ve handpicked some of our wonderful Batik featuring Ultimate Gray and Illuminating separately and combined to help you plan your next project.

PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating