DARE TO WEAR VERY PERI?
Setting a precedent, the colour experts for the first time ever have created a brand new colour for the annual Pantone colour announcement. Customarily each year since 1999 Pantone has announced their Colour of the Year. From Living Coral, Serenity, Radiant Orchid, Mimosa and grey and yellow for 2021, for 2022 they have announced Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri as their colour of the year.
Across the industries from fashion to interiors the Pantone colour of the year is eagerly awaited as the colour is expected to sum up the mood of the year and trickle down the trends from clothing and nail polish to soft furnishings and wall paint.
Pantone have described Periwinkle aka Very Peri as “a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet red undertone”. In a press release Pantone adds “Blending the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red, this happiest and warmest of all the blue hues introduces an empowering mix of newness.” The company goes on to explain that the colour is chosen as a reflection of our changing physical and digital lives, trends in gaming, and the popularity of the nascent metaverse.
Very Peri bodes well for creative beings as according to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director at the Pantone Colour Institute, Very Peri has “a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.”
Love it or loathe it the Periwinkle Blue has already made an appearance in several of the Spring/summer 2022 runway collections. Valentino took on Very Peri in different shades with creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli pairing Very Peri with contrasting colour such as green and yellow. Lady Gaga too gave a nod to Very Peri when she wore a SS 2022 dress by Allesandro Michelle to the UK premier of House of Gucci.
Addressing the question as to how Very Peri will make an impact on the Sri Lankan fashion scene, Founder and President of CFW Ajai Vir Singh says “colours which are bold and beyond the normal palette will play a role in 2022. Since colours carry frequency they have an effect on our moods. After the lockdowns interesting new colours will represent freedom and breakthrough. And I feel Peri has that lilac tone to it. A hint of it will add well to a summer or tropical look. So yes I may try a hint of it."
Designer
Sharmilla Ruberu
says “I think it is different and a smart choice to represent “newness”. Blending the faithfulness of the blue with the excitement of the red undertone does bring about a sense of hope and happiness to Very Peri. Given the two years we have had if Very Peri can bring us hope and happiness then why not?"
For Nilanka Silva, the founder of La Sari, Very Peri is reminiscent of Forget Me Nots. “I think it is a very different kind of blue that we could team up with a lot of colours and I can’t wait to wear it.”
Potter Mihiri De Silva, founder of Red Coccoon is apprehensive as to how Very Peri will look on tableware. Even if she wanted to create a range of pottery in Very Peri she adds “there is no source or supplier of glazes in Sri Lanka who will make or offer new shades."
Fazeena Rajabdeen the CEO of Colombo Fashion Week believes that many versions of blue always remain in her wardrobe as staples and a subtle violet addition to it can be confidently fresh.
Lonali Rodrigo
belives that Periwinkle blue/ Very Peri is a very varied colour. “If you are inspired by nature such as sunsets or floral like lavendor or even illustarate futuristic elements of holigraphy or reflective, this is a colour you will definitely include in your designer colour pallete. Yes, being in a tropical island, starting to travel more I would love to wear it, the tones of it are amazing to showcase individuality and your mood” she adds.
With a raft of fashion shows coming up it would be interesting to see how Pantone’s Very Peri filters to the Sri Lankan fashion scene.
I think it is different and a smart choice to represent “newness”