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Help on selecting colors for fabric, embroidery, and beading.

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Sunrise Pashmina Color Chooser

We made this one, and, for the reasons noted in the disclaimer (see Sidebar, right), we're not crazy about it. This chart is limited to commonly requested colors that we can represent fairly accurately.

Sunrise Thread Color Chart

This chart is widely used by dyers in Nepal. They don't have names for many of the colors represented by these thread samples -- and neither do we. However, you can simply refer to the thread numbers that appear above each thread sample: just enter the thread sample number in the "ordering instructions" box on the online shopping cart page. To be safe, you might add the name of that color as you perceive it. If we see a discrepancy between the thread number and the color name, we will contact you for a clarification before processing the order.

Pantone Spring 2010 Palette

Read the Pantone Report [pdf format].

Interfiliere Spring-Summer 2010 Colors

Pantone Fall 2009 Colors

• PANTONE 19-1759 American Beauty is a true red with connotations of patriotism and cohesiveness.
• PANTONE 18-3520 Purple Heart is a refined and sensuous color that adds creativity and excitement to any design, especially when paired with American Beauty.
• PANTONE 16-1143 Honey Yellow is a golden version of the Pantone 2009 Color of the Year, 14-0848 Mimosa (see below). For contrast, pair it with Purple Heart, its color wheel opposite; or create a more subdued, earthy look by combining it with Burnt Sienna and Iron.
• PANTONE 18-1306 Iron is Pantone’s “new black” for Autumn. Neither black nor brown, it is a true neutral.
• PANTONE 13-1006 Crème Brûlée is a grayed-down beige. Like Iron, it goes with everything and is a true neutral.
• PANTONE 16-1212 Nomad is somewhere between beige and light gray. Like Iron and Brulee, it is another timeless neutral.
• PANTONE 17-1544 Burnt Sienna is a deep, earthy shade of orange that looks great with Nomad and Rapture Rose.
• PANTONE 17-1929 Rapture Rose is a nurturing, feminine tone that captures both the vibrancy of fuchsia and the softness of pink.
• PANTONE 15-0646 Warm Olive is a rich-green yellow. Use it when you need to add a touch of sophistication or make other colors in your design “pop.”
• PANTONE 19-4125 Majolica Blue is a deep teal blue that looks like a black on its own and like a an exotic navy when paired with brighter colors such as Burnt Sienna or Purple Heart.

2009 Color of the Year

It's mimosa!

Pantone has named mimosa the color of the year for 2009. The specific color name is Pantone 14-0848 Mimosa. Pantone says, "In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow."

Best illustrated by the abundant flowers of the Mimosa tree and the sparkle of the brilliantly hued cocktail, the 2009 color of the year represents the hopeful and radiant characteristics associated with the color yellow. Mimosa is a versatile shade that coordinates with any other color, has appeal for men and women, and translates to both fashion and interiors. Look for women's accessories, home furnishings, active sportswear and men's ties and shirts in this vibrant hue.

Vogue UK writes that designers Christopher Kane, Giles, Tommy Hilfiger and Ossie Clark are already incorporation yellow hues into their Spring 2009 collections. Pantone's Spring 2009 color report listed ten other hues that will be popular in Spring 2009. That report was lead by blues and purples.

The other 2009 Spring Fashion Colors

A good place to check out fashion industry color trends is Fashion Trendsetter, the online fashion forecasting, trend reporting, and news e-zine. Here is the color trend page.

When it comes to color, Pantone is the voice of authority. You can read their report for Spring 2009 (in pdf format), or just meditate on their Big Colors, below. To choose these colors, enter Pantone Dark-Citron (for example)in the Ordering Instructions textbox inside the shopping cart.

IMPORTANT! As always, the representation of these colors on your monitor may be quite different from what Pantone had in mind. On our own monitors, the image of Palace Blue, for instance, is much lighter and greener than the near-navy described in the literature. To be sure you are getting what you want, check the relevant Pantone codes against a print version of the codes.

Dark-Citron PANTONE 16-0435 PANTONE GOE 136-1-3C	Fuchsia-Red PANTONE 18-2328 PANTONE GOE 32-2-5C	Lavender PANTONE 15-3817 PANTONE GOE 55-2-1C	Lucite-Green PANTONE 14-5714 PANTONE GOE 108-1-1C	Palace-Blue PANTONE 18-4043 PANTONE GOE 70-2-4C
Rose-Dust PANTONE 14-1307 PANTONE GOE 148-1-1C	Salmon-Rose PANTONE 15-1626 PANTONE GOE 22-1-2C	Slate-Gray PANTONE 16-5804 PANTONE GOE 93-2-2C	Super-Lemon PANTONE 14-0754 PANTONE GOE 3-1-4C	Vibrant-Green PANTONE 16-6339 PANTONE GOE 111-2-5C

Here's what Fashion Week says about the spring palette:

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK, SEPTEMBER 5 – 12, 2008

Spring traditionally evokes a sense of freshness and new beginnings, with sprouting shoots and blossoming flowers that inspire designers to breakout of the winter doldrums. Bright colors return to the top 10 list for spring ’09, as designers incorporate vibrant pops into their collections, yet temper the vibrancy with deeper, translucent or neutral tones.

"New York’s fashion designers encourage hopeful attitudes with lively colors, while sophisticated, grounded hues address the need for stability in times of economic uncertainty," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

Fall ’08 saw blue and purple rise to the forefront of fashion. As is often true, colors evolve from season to season, and spring ’09 is no exception. Palace Blue, a favorite among designers this season, takes a steadfast, classic, spring navy-like tone and makes it sparkle. Paired with just about any color in the report, it offers many intriguing spring combinations. Taking purple in a lighter direction, Lavender presents a softer, more summery hue, extending the mystical aspects of purple available last fall.

As yellow continues to make its mark on the world of fashion, tangy Super Lemon brings a fun, optimistic outlook to the palette. Its luminosity is determined to evoke a smile and attract the roving consumer’s eyes. Taking a cue from its lemony neighbor, friendly and approachable Salmon Rose also conveys an optimistic outlook. The subtlest of oranges, Salmon Rose is flattering to most complexions and is beautiful with a summer glow. Think sensual and seductive Fuchsia Red for clothing, as well as lipstick and nail polish selections, this spring. With its blue undertones, this cool red is a real show-stopper, adding a sense of elegance to the palette.

Stabilizing neutrals provide practicality in a changing economic landscape. Not your average beige, Rose Dust breaks away from the typical neutrals associated with spring by adding dimension with subtle rose undertones. And with its bluish-green undertones, cool Slate Gray is a nuanced neutral that can be paired with any of the other nine colors in the report.

Three greens, each with their own distinct personality, round out the color palette for spring ‘09, perpetuating the idea of freshness and renewal. Vibrant Green, the quintessential spring hue, brings a true verdancy to the palette in a time of revitalization. Dark Citron, a citrus-inspired green, is calmer and more serious than most, offering an element of sophistication to the mix. Reflective Lucite Green, a clean, clear subtle hue, adds a slight shimmer. For more information about the Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2009 please visit: www.pantone.com/spring2009

More color blah-blah: Womens Fashion, Suite 101