2011 Color of the Year HONEYSUCKLE by Pantone Guru Lee Eiseman

This article was published on istockphoto and I think everyone will find it interesting.



antone has selected the bold, reddish-pink Honeysuckle as its 2011 Color of the Year, calling it "a brave new color for a brave new world."
While Turquoise, 2010's Color of the Year, served as an escape of sorts, Honeysuckle confidently goes a step further to encourage and uplift, according to Pantone Color Guru Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman. It's a hue that's meant to scream, Recession be damned! We will prevail!

"In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits," said Eiseman. "Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues."

Fashion designer James Mischka, half of the famed Badgley Mischka duo, is already incorporating Honeysuckle into his spring collection and told the Associated Press he hopes it does, in fact, provide a sense of hope and renewal in the year ahead.

"It's a positive, strong, affirmative color, and I think that's what hopefully everyone's attitude is going into [2011]."

While Honeysuckle may help ward off the blues, it isn't trying to ward off the beautiful blue-green that is turquoise. Eiseman said turquoise isn't going anywhere anytime soon, just like Mimosa didn't suddenly disappear last year.

"As I always say to my students and audiences, the color of the year for this year does not fall off the ends of the earth at the end of the year — it is simply combined in with other colors where the 'newest' color of the year becomes more dominant," she said. " As I demonstrate in all of my books, there is a 'pecking' order of color: dominance, subordination and then accent or touch."

So turquoise becomes the subordinate to Honeysuckle, and yellow the accent.

Alone and paired with other colors, Honeysuckle has a bit of a retro vibe to it even as it inspires a new beginning.

"All colors travel in waves and cycles [and] there is truly nothing 'new' in color," said Eiseman, adding that it's all about how it's combined with other colors. " That seems fresh and new, but there is still a feel of nostalgia and retro that is somewhat reassuring to people in difficult times such as these."

Just as Turquoise enveloped the design world last year, from scarves and bar stools to product packaging and websites, expect to see Honeysuckle popping up vibrantly not only in fashion but also home décor, print ads and web design.