Rewards
Each year since 2000, with the exception of 2016 and 2021, the company Pantone has selected a single Color of the Year in an attempt to reflect the atmosphere of the world. The Pantone Color Institute takes into account things like art, film, travel, current events and socio-economic conditions when selecting the color. This year however, as in 2016, the Pantone Color Institute has selected two colors that represent the current state of the world. Pantone recently announced the choices for 2021’s color (or colors) of the year, the colors selected are Ultimate Grey and Illuminating.
Pantone has captured the spirit of the year in their colors again. As we all remain hardened from the uncertainty, stress, and loss of the past year, we also look to the future with hope for vaccines, medicines, treatments, and a return to some semblance of normalcy. “The union of an enduring Ultimate Grey with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this color is a combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted.” -Leatrice Eisman, Executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
Grey as the stone, strong and still remaining largely unchanged with the passage of time or the coming and going of seasons. So is it that the memories and experiences of this time will not simply fade as the years go by, this period of time will stand in our memories and the history books long after the covid crisis becomes less impactful on daily life. Grey as the light that fills the world at dawn and dusk, a constant signal of change, of passing out of the night’s darkness and into the daylight.
Yellow as the light from the sun, bright and illuminating, even now as it strengthens through spring to show its full strength in the Summer. The yellow light of the sun is a sign of persistence and power, it brings promises of growth and renewal as well as an unwavering commitment to rise each new day. Yellow is also a fragile color as many other colors can obscure or alter it. In order to observe yellow’s true beauty, it must not be in competition with its neighbors but rather in harmony with those around it. Yellow as the tinge that comes to old photographs when they’re gazed upon in remembrance of the times we’ve had with the people we love.
Strength, endurance, positivity, and brightness are some of the words one can associate with the Pantone colors of the year for 2021. In honor of these colors, we have curated a selection of yarns in the colorways Ultimate Grey and Illumination. We would love to see and read about what meanings these colors hold for you and the ways you may choose to represent these colors into your fiber artistry!
