Emerald glitters as Pantone's 2013 color of the year

Cindy W. Hodnett -- Furniture Today, December 6, 2012

CR Laine’s “Fifty Shades of Green” theme at the fall High Point market included the Brazilliance chair with emerald green tones. Pantone’s announcement contained an image of an emerald to illustrate the color.

CARLSTADT, N.J. — Pantone, a provider of color standards for the design industry, has announced that Pantone 17-5641 Emerald will be the 2013 color of the year.

Described by Pantone as "a lively, radiant, lush green," Pantone's color of the year corresponds with the green trends seen at the fall High Point Market and at the recent Showtime fabric show in High Point. Although blue remains popular with upholstery furniture and fabric suppliers, Pantone's Emerald tone encapsulates two key trends for 2013 - a spectrum of green hues and rich jewel tones.

Pantone representatives said that the company's color of the year selection has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in several industries, from fashion and home to packaging and graphic design. Pantone 17-5641 Emerald is available in a variety of products from home furnishings to beauty products and paint.

"Green is the most abundant hue in nature - the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors."