Minion Yellow is hardly the type of shade you would expect Pantone LLC, the global authority on color and trends, to come up with, but there it is, part of the company’s Fashion, Home + Interiors color palette.   

 

While I doubt that this particular yellow hue is going to be Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2016, it’s a fun addition to the color rainbow and a great example of a serious company doing some creative thinking.

 

Apparently, the idea was conceived by Pharrell Williams, who helped create the music for the Despicable Me franchise in which the Minions appear. Pantone then worked closely with the animation team at Illumination Entertainment to identify the most pure representation of the Minions’ iconic yellow color. The resulting color is designed to “represent the sweet and subversive characters. An extroverted hue, it projects playfulness and warmth and is suggestive of intellectual curiosity and enlightenment.” Who knew cartoon characters had such depth.

 

"Color is contextual and right now there is a desire for colors that are more vibrant and uplifting. This is especially the case with the yellows, so given the worldwide popularity of the Minions, it seemed only natural to name a color after a character for the first time in our history," said Laurie Pressman, vice president, Pantone Color Institute.

 

So, what colors should the jewelry world be looking to for inspiration (and increased sales in 2016) and what will be the color the year following Masala in 2015 and my favorite Radiant Orchid in 2014?

 

The options for the coming spring and summer – far from the vibrancy of Minion Yellow – are soothing and calming. They include Rose Quartz, Peach Echo, Serenity (blue), Snorkel Blue, Buttercup (a non-Minion shade of yellow), Limpet Shell (aqua), Lilac Gray, Fiesta (a yellow-based red), Iced Coffee and Green Flash and most of them would be perfect in on-trend jewelry pieces.

 

According to Pantone Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman, the shift to softer shades is a result of the uncertainty that surrounds us. “We are continuing to yearn for balance by incorporating those softer shades that offer a sense of calm and relaxation,” she asserts.

 

As for the color of the year, I’m putting my money on Rose Quartz, which was picked up by many of the designers in the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2016. This soft, dusty pink is by Pantone as “a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Like a serene sunset, flushed cheek or budding flower, Rose Quartz reminds us to reflect on our surroundings during the busy but light-hearted spring and summer months.”

 

Admittedly, I’m biased towards the pinks – think pink diamonds, Morganite, kunzite and, of course rose quartz – but really, it’s a gorgeous color and one I am looking forward to seeing more of next year.

 

So, to get ahead in the color game for 2016, check out the full Pantone Color Report here.

 

Have a fabulous weekend.