Pantone's 2015 Color of the Year: Marsala

   On December 4th, Pantone announced their color of the year for 2015: Marsala, Pantone 18-1438. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute, asserts, "A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies, and souls. Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us into its embracing warmth."

  Contrary to this, the blogosphere has not embraced the color. Slate online declared "Everyone Hates Marsala, Pantone's Color of the Year", and cited various reviews: "New York magazine's The Cut called Marsala 'icky'.  In a post titled, 'The Problem with Pantone's Color of the Year', the Atlantic pointed out that Marsala reminded some people of 'rust, the grimy, gag-inducing type that lines corners or frat boy dormitory-style bathrooms. Or blood, the freaky dried kind whose iron content has been exposed to the air long enough to evoke a dull brick.'  Instead of the gourmet associations of Marsala wine and pomegranate fruit, as featured in the color campaign's marketing images, the magazine suggested that it conjured visions of elementary-school mystery meat, liver, and meatloaf." 

  Regardless of these negative reviews, Marsala is likely to appear in fashion, beauty, and design elements in 2015. Pantone not only inspires, but also sets color trends with their annual pick.

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