Trends

Forecasting Color Trends for 2006 and beyond

One of the major elements of any design is color. It reflects the influences of world events, politics, art, media, fashion, and music. From the avocado and harvest gold of the 1970s to the pink that echoes today's hopes for a rosier world, color punctuates our memories and scores our emotional lives. JQ takes a look at color trends forecasted through 2007, what influences the trends, and tips for jewelers to track trends in their own market.

By Deborah A. Yonick

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Bivens says Fall/Winter 2006/2007 will show a color range from the radiant ochre tones of sunrise (yellows to burnt oranges, everything topaz to amber) to sumptuous violet hues; misty natural colors with moderate, graphic tones; eccentric and variegated blends of traditional British shades with daring bright tones; and acidic, luminescent shades with concrete neutrals. "The range will be richer and more luxurious, a return to a heritage of luxury," she describes. Harrington adds that gray-putty neutrals will replace browns, melon-yellow-peachy colors will evolve, and deep dark orchids and plums will be important.

In gemstones, Hucker expects more of the same trends for 2007 in the movement of affordable, unusual gems that lend themselves well to fashion-forward designs. With increased interest and exposure to colored gemstones, he believes consumers will become more educated and prolific in what they want, expanding gem demand across the market. "This will place a greater oneness on jewelers to step up gem training at both the purchasing and sales levels," he projects.

What influences color
There are many factors influencing which colors will be en vogue, from social, political and economic trends to what our favorite celebrities are wearing. But figuring out those colors and their timing on the market is a combination of ongoing research and gut instinct. Color forecasting is time consuming and complex, which is why many manufacturers and retailers defer to professional trends trackers who make it their business to be in the know.

Harrington quips that many people think color trends analysts pull their projections out of nowhere, selecting their personal favorites. But when examining key influencers, color specialists look at the big picture, exploring patterns and evolutions of events in many industries including art, architecture, and design. "There’s no crystal ball," notes trends forecaster Britt Bivens. Those who track trends analyze what has happened and is happening, and we give our stylistic interpretations of what will happen."

Harrington adds that the process is more intuitive than scientific. "It’s almost unconscious. I scan the environment, make mental notes, and identify touch points to follow, which feed into an understanding of what’s happening in a targeted area. Let’s say you’re trending against fashion, the touch points would be super high-end runway shows, haute couture, and fashion trade magazines like WWD. Determine what should be on your radar screen. Part of your daily routine is to scan the environment, monitoring shifts. Where are trends now versus last year and why? To determine triggers, piece together happenings and connect the threads."

Jewelry has become an important touch point for Harrington. "Big medallion pendants of Indian/western influences are inspiring design in home furnishing," she says, noting that jewelry was not a place she always looked to as an influencer. "It could be that jewelry designers are becoming more expressive, taking more risks, doing things that are not mimicking other things — finding their own voice and putting it out in a strong way."

Trends are evolutionary and multiple influences are at play. "If economic times are tough or if the stock market is bullish, these things put in place a future reality for people and impact their behavior and attitude," says Harrington, who notes that the 2008 Olympics in China is inspiring Asian influences in design. "When there’s uncertainty, people withdraw. They invest in colors that are solid and pass the test of time. If the world is great and everything’s rosy, people open up. A pink car, no problem! The way they look at color, and how willing they are to commit to it, starts to change."

Trendsetters lead the way in perpetuating trends. People who are considered trendsetters identify trends early and add their voice. "It’s not unlike any leadership role," explains Harrington. "People follow others’ leadership projections for the future when they cannot predict for themselves. If you’re brave enough to put a stake in the ground as to what your future will be, the only question is how solid will it be, how many will follow?"

Celebrities have taken a leadership role in promoting trends. "Who doesn’t remember Renée Zellweger’s vintage yellow gown, Nicole Kidman’s teal Gucci, or Cate Blanchett in Valentino gold? There’s nothing that gets noticed more than a woman in color in a room full of black," describes Michael Fink, senior fashion director for Saks Fifth Avenue. "As celebrities play paper doll muses for designers, it allows us, the wonderful people in the dark, to evaluate and determine what new colors or silhouettes might be something to experiment with. When a particular color is photographed repeatedly on different celebrities, it can certainly validate an emerging trend."

Color influencers for 2006
The color professionals at CMG identify six key influences as driving color directions for 2006:

• Techno-Organic Balance - Consumers seek a balance in their lives between the influences of nature and the pace of technology.
• Breathing Space - Consumers want rewarding lives despite work and societal demands.
• Heritage with Heart - Consumers re-connect with the past.
• Hybrid - Hybridization parallels geopolitical and economic events, a result of the proliferation of global unification.
• Über Luxury - As extravagance becomes accessible to the masses, there’s a need to identify symbols conveying a new level of status.
• Color Depth - Consumers seek bold colors and luminous materials that add glow and fluidity in product executions.
  
  (Runway fashion photos courtesy of Randy Brooke; Color swatches courtesy of Dewey Sadka.)
  
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