If you have watched the cult classic, Devil Wears Prada, you may recall the famous monologue by the savage Miranda Priestly, referring to Andy’s “lumpy blue sweater”, which was, in fact, ‘Cerulean Blue’! The scene provided an interesting insight into how this shade of blue trickled down from Oscar de la Renta’s runway to the corner shops of every street. Yes, that’s exactly how essential and powerful ‘colour trends’ are!
From pastels and vibrant tones for Spring and Summer to the dark hues for Autumn and Winter, colours hold much more significance than what simply meets the eye! For several successive years, fashion weeks have been held religiously worldwide and with each new season, new colour trends are set for the industry to follow.
But have you ever wondered, who decides these colours that dominate the seasons? WGSN is a global trend reporting authority which gives information and predictions about future trends as well as sketches and patterns for Designers and production houses all over the world.
It is essential to understand that these forecasts are not merely based on complete obscurity, but with knowledge, research and analysis. Each new season, factors which help determine these forecast results include global events and trends, including past seasonal colours, economic and socio-cultural influences, etc.
What are the factors that the forecast for A/W’ 24/25 focuses on?
For the season Autumn/Winter’ 24/25, WGSN along with its primary colour system, Coloro has launched the ‘5 Key Colors’ that will drive consumer purchases across all industries. These are taken from Coloro’s comprehensive library of 3500+ colours, which are backed by full-proof research to ensure achievability and durability.
This time, the driving ideology behind the colour forecast surrounds topics of sustainability, the environment, things that bring us closer to outer space and a slow lifestyle that has evolved post-pandemic.
The idea of sustainability has risen in popularity in recent times, as the global pandemic of 2020 forced everyone to finally take the environment seriously and embrace a slow pace of life. Emotions surrounding caring for the planet and making conscious choices are at its peak right now. As a result, they are likely to strongly influence the colours of the upcoming seasons.
As a byproduct, the world is rapidly becoming digital and blurring the line between physical and virtual reality. The industry’s biggest brands have entered the Metaverse, by participating in Meta fashion shows and opening virtual stores. As absurd as it might seem, we are getting closer to a future where you can do things in a virtual world just as you can in the real world! Here is a lowdown on the colours that are a part of the A/W ‘24/25 forecast, and the factors that influenced them.
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Apricot Crush
Apricot Crush is a tone of orange, which is neither too stark nor too dull. It is reminiscent of ‘balance’. It refers to the importance of a balanced lifestyle that brings stability to the body and soul. This shade was previously a part of A/W ‘23/24, and it now proceeds into the season A/W ’24/25. This continuous appearance throws light on the versatility of the shade, across seasons.
This colour is an “activating vitamin tone”, naturally present in apricots and oranges. Clearly, this shade shows an approach towards health and wellbeing. In times of sickness and uncertainty, ‘Apricot Crush’ is like a bright ray of hope and positivity.
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VOGUE/ J. Mendel Pre-fall 2016
Intense Rust
‘Deep’ and ‘fierce’ are what describe this shade of red, which continues its journey from the forecast of AW ‘23/24. Intense Rust is here to evoke feelings of ‘stability’.
The tone is redolent of soil and earth- as warm and calm. This again, refers to the concept of ‘sustainability’ and the consumers’ increasing love and consideration for the planet. According to WGSN, “This colour communicates authenticity, quiet luxury and promotes a return of classic design”, over the constant hunger for newness!
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Midnight Plum
This tone is as mysterious and enchanting as its name. Midnight Plum refers to ‘Space exploration’ and the natural tones of the galaxy- an outer reality experience. The shade owes its nature to NASA’s James Webb Telescope, which opened up mysteries of the ‘origins of the Universe’, allowing our imagination to run wild!
The shade also closely relates to ‘Metaverse’ and the need for escapism from reality. Midnight Plum truly celebrates darkness and comes off as a gothic shade as well as that of ‘underground sentiments’.
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Sustained Grey
The significance of this shade is an exact reflection of the tone and its name, referring to neutral and sustainable colour choices. Sustained Grey is a celebration of recyclability and the need for embracing having “just enough”.
As put forward by WGSN, “this colour is foundational and grounding with a utilitarian edge”. Through this colour, we see a continual focus on sustainability, minimalism and a simplistic approach towards life. This shade is trans-seasonal. It is relevant all year long with a long-term appeal, unlike the more striking seasonal colour trends.
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Cool Matcha
Attention to calmness and soothing essence continues with this last colour prediction of the forecast. Cool Matcha is a tinted pastel green shade that is strongly reminiscent of nature, and its connection with technology. It highlights the nature-powered bio and plant-based substances like dyes, pigments and energy sources that widely drive the industry.
After Covid, anxiety and depression was soon predicted to be the next pandemic. While that has fortunately not turned into reality, they are still very much present and relevant. This shade has a soothing and pacifying appeal that calms the eyes and the mind, negating feelings of anxiousness. Cool Matcha is a seamless combination of ‘vegetal green and mindful pastel’ with therapeutic qualities.
The power of colour has proven to be dynamic for many years. A ;colour forecast’ is a speculative and systematic evaluation that provides a looking glass into the future. This bidding theory has the potential to predict the forthcoming trends that shape consumer behaviours across all industries, like Fashion and Design, tech and various other sectors. It is truly fascinating how these forecasts have been integral to our cultural history, global trends and influences. From the most famous innovations to the tiniest production houses, their journey cascades through various paths to reach the farthest corners of the world.
(The information in this article has been closely referenced from the original forecast available at WGSN website.)