Marsala, also known as PANTONE® 18-1438, has been named Pantone’s 2015 Colour of the Year.

This hearty hue will take the reigns from 2014’s Radiant Orchid, moving from lavender and violet tones to warm reds and rich wine colours.

Marsala is robust, earthy and fulfilling

Marsala is robust, earthy and fulfilling

 “The impactful, full-bodied qualities of Marsala make for an elegant, grounded statement colour when used on its own or as a strong accent to many other colours,” PANTONE® reveal on their website.

“Marsala is a subtle seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth,” adds Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the PANTONE® Colour Institute.

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The depth and robustness of Marsala is also set to appeal to culinary and wine enthusiasts with it’s name derived from the fortified wine produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala, Sicily.

“Nurturing and fulfilling, Marsala is a natural fit for the kitchen and dining room – making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens through the home,” explains Eiseman.

According to Eiseman, the colour will also have universal appeal seamlessly translating across the fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishing and interiors industry.

In terms of it’s furnishing application, PANTONE® reveals that the Marsala will be welcomed in accent pieces, accessories and paint whilst being an ideal choice for rugs and upholstered living room furniture.

We spoke to editorial director, Michelle Lamb of The Trend Curve, an international authority on color and design trends for home furnishings for her insights on the new colour and whether she indeed saw it coming.

“It’s a fabulous colour,” begins Lamb. “We’ve been tracking a rise in deep value reds for over a year and this fits right in with other colours like oxblood. Hues like that are immensely sellable in my opinion.”

“Think about edgy colour. It has come and gone in the vernacular of colour over the last few years. This one isn’t edgy, it feels new but not edgy so that means it’s going to be immensely useable not just for small items but for large items. I can see this in textiles, furniture, dinnerware. I think Marsala has broad application and is a great pick from PANTONE®,” concludes Lamb.

PANTONE® which is wholly owned by X-Rite, is a global colour authority has been announcing an annual colour since 2000.

Extensive research goes into selecting the colour with Eiseman combing through the world to observe future design and colour influences to see one colour rise in importance through all creative sectors.

According to The Guardian, a colour committee secretly meets twice throughout year to pitch palette concepts, debate colour trends and ultimately select the hue that is set to dominate.

However, the chosen colour is not trend based, it instead expresses what is “taking place in the global zeitgeist” and designed to resonate around the world according to PANTONE®.

In terms of the last decade, warm colours similar to Marsala haven’t been seen since Chilli Pepper in 2007 and a touch of Tangerine Tango in 2012.

Looking back, we review the colours that were:

  • PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
  • PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
  • PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
  • PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
  • PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
  • PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
  • PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
  • PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
  • PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
  • PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
  • PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)