Essentials | In Style Color Me Beautiful Trending fashion colors run the gamut from earth tones to vivid hues, with pastels, blues and greens as standouts for this year. By Rachel Zoch FASHION TRENDS, INCLUDING COLOR, COME AND GO, but most garments meant for corporate apparel or promotional purposes tend toward the tried-and-true neutrals: black, white, navy, gray. But bold color choices can make your brand stand out, says Carissa Richmond, director of national sales with Los Angeles-based supplier Bella+Canvas. “We’ve realized that 70 to 80% of buying decisions are based on color alone,” she says, “so having the right color is key.” Richmond adds that although many promo customers initially look for blanks in neutrals or classic red or blue, they are often drawn to other colors once they see what’s available. “We’re seeing that a lot of customers are gravitating towards colors that differentiate their offering,” she says. “… A lot of them realize that if they’re going to add a color that none of their competitors have, then that really differentiates their offering and helps continue to grow their brand.” The color experts at Pantone have highlighted a variety of colors for 2023. Well ahead of unveiling Viva Magenta, its 2023 Color of the Year, Pantone released a color palette for New York Fashion Week in September 2022. The collection of 10 mostly bright hues for spring and summer includes vivid red, pink and orange, as well as classic and lime green, plus two calming, grayish blues. To complement these cheery hues, Pantone also provided five “core classics” with a more subdued tone, including pastel pink and blue and earthy shades of gray, green and brown. Pale Dogwood PASTEL Sharp Green GREEN Blue Atoll BLUE ShotPrime Studio / Shutterstock.com 16 • APRIL 2023 • PPAI
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