Greenery, a refreshing and revitalizing shade is the color of the year for 2017 according to Pantone Color Institute. The organization has been choosing a color to symbolize the current cultural climate since 2000. For 2017, Greenery a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring will influence trends in all facets of design not limited to fashion, architecture, interior décor, and even food.
According to Pantone, Greenery is nature’s neutral. The color should be able to provide “some hope” after the confusing US Presidential elections late 2016. Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute executive director told the New York Times says that “We know what kind of world we are living in: one that is very stressful and very tense. This is the color of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring, we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to.”
Hope is clearly evident when you look at Greenery. It signifies a fresh New Year, healthy food resolutions and lifestyles, vegetarian trends, and love for the outdoors which is getting more and more popular. But most importantly, Greenery reflects the environment. In today’s world “environment” and refers to the ”Go Green movement. Pantone has even partnered with AirBnb to create experiences in nature for their users that is inspired by the color.
Greenery also reflects the growing desire to reconnect with nature and to disconnect with technology. Laurie Pressman, the Pantone Color Institute’s vice president, told to FORBES that Greenery reflects our need to take a break, to stop and breathe.
But, perhaps more importantly, the color represents a divided cultural and political landscape. Contrary to popular belief, Greenery is not about the color of money, because nature is free. Greenery does not represent the “green with envy” state of mind unlike 2013’s color of the year, emerald. Pressman is referring to Vivienne Westwood’s motto of “buy less, choose well, make it last” which also influences her current collection. Aside from Westwood, other designers and clothing outlets like H&M, Gucci, Kenzo, Balenciaga, and Michael Kors are starting environment friendly lines and choosing Greenery to headlight their colors for 2017 as reflected during the last New York Fashion Week.
Because Greenery is nature’s neutral, it is a life affirming shade. As people become more submerged in technology and modern life, the deeper the desire to reconnect with nature and to choose a simpler way of life. The color reflects man’s craving to shift from physical beauty to the inherent beauty and bounty of the natural world.
Pantone encourages people to wear Greenery to symbolize protecting the environment and the need to shift to a life closer to nature. They hope that people will wear the color as a statement all year round.
