Each year for the past 25, The Pantone Color Institute has unveiled a color that encapsulates the spirit, trends, and aspirations of the moment. The Pantone Color of the Year is more than a mere shade; it’s a reflection of our emotions, cultural shifts, and the essence of our times. Peach Fuzz is the color of the year for 2024. It’s already sparking conversations and creativity across various industries, including our own. Read on to see how the color inspires us in the collaborative writing surfaces industry.
Understanding Peach Fuzz
Peach Fuzz is more than just a hue; it is a reminder to slow down, enjoy the moment and care for ourselves and each other. Described by Pantone as “gentle, velvety, contemporary, and nurturing,” Peach Fuzz mixes pink and orange in a subtle shade that evokes a gentle and subtle reaction.
I’ve excitedly anticipated the unveiling of the Pantone Color of the Year for each of my 20 years working in the furnishings industry. Like most professionals in design-centric occupations, I have a strong relationship with color. That means my reactions every year range from “Love it!” to “Absolutely not,” with the occasional “Well, that’s interesting,” thrown in. This year, it’s more of a soft acceptance.
The color’s delicate nature means that at first blush (thank you for allowing the pun), it may not seem to dominate clothing collections, accessories, and home and office décor as have past colors. It’s not quite as bold and noticeable as 2023’s Viva Magenta, 2017’s Greenery and 2005’s Blue Turquoise. Rather, it may feel like it’s always been there.
While its appearance in retail and design may not seem as sudden or striking, that means it could have greater staying power and more timeless appeal. As my coworker pointed out, I have two striking Viva Magenta insulated cups—one for water and one for coffee—on my desk as I write this. Truthfully, they do seem a bit jarring now when compared to the gentleness of Peach Fuzz.
What it Means for Calyx by Claridge
As a writing surface, Peach Fuzz lends itself beautifully to Calyx by Claridge glassboards. The tone imbues any space with warmth and light, especially when complemented by other favorites of this season, warm wood and gold tones. A Mina mobile in Peach Fuzz with gold powder coat accents would appear both luxurious and soothing while our proprietary Ombria gradient printing process allows the pink and orange hues to seamlessly flow into one another in a work of functional art. Although Peach Fuzz is not one of our standard colors, our custom color matching services and printing process allows us to perfectly capture the Color of the Year’s essence.
More than a Color
Our collective experience in the 2020s has been marked by turbulence, divisiveness, and worry. At the official Pantone Color of the Year announcement webinar, the imagery and narrative supported the idea that maybe we all need wrap ourselves in a soft fuzzy blanket (preferably in a shade of Peach Fuzz), take a deep breath and know that everything will be okay.
Although I have seen several color experts comparing Peach Fuzz to sleek, sophisticated vintage accessories and retro hotels, my personal color association is with the “baby aspirin” my mother and grandmother gave me and my sister. This was the cure they offered when we experienced what they called “growing pains” or when our legs ached from days of activity and constant movement. It is also remarkably similar to the chenille bedspread that covered the guestroom bed we would sink into after those active days, falling asleep to the comforting sound of our grandparents talking in hushed tones on soft summer nights. If Peach Fuzz had a sound, that would be it.
Growing pains seem a fitting description of what we’ve all experienced the past few years; sharp pains followed by a dull constant ache that we can’t quite shake. Maybe the color experts at Pantone are right. Maybe, just maybe, Peach Fuzz can help the healing begin.