Every year, fashionistas and trendsetters eagerly await the release of Pantone’s Color of the Year, which has become a sort of cultural moment. The color often represents hope for the future and new year. In 2022, it was Very Peri, a soothing shade of periwinkle regarded as comforting in the post-pandemic world. Last year, it was Viva Magenta, which touted itself as joyous and optimistic and whose hues we saw everywhere with the Barbiecore trend.
For 2024, Pantone’s Color of the Year is 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, which is a velvety, gentle peach tone that executive director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman describes as echoing “our innate yearning for closeness and connection […] radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion.”
The general sentiment is that Peach Fuzz is simple yet optimistic. Unlike last year’s bold and bright Viva Magenta, this peach hue is understated and soothing. It’s clear from Pantone’s descriptions that they want the color to bring a sense of coziness, calm and unity, perhaps as a reaction to the global violence and conflicts that have plagued the end of 2023.
The romantic color’s name reflects a tactile or sensual quality, like velvety peaches or vintage silks, urging people to slow down—smell, touch, taste and reflect on the basic oneness of humanity in the midst of challenging times.
