By James Andres

Get ready to introduce your clients to a whole new color spectrum, from a scorching red to magenta purple to an acidic yellow-green.

Pantone stepped away from brighter hues for the upcoming autumn and winter seasons, saying that “less is more,” according to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Offering a rich narrative, the color palette for Fall 2020 highlights our desire for versatile, timeless color,” she said in a press release. The palette is “stripped of excess. Imbued with strength and personality, colors for fall encourage our ongoing desire for unique self-expression through creative and unusual visual statements that stand out.”

The great thing about these colors is that, for both men and women, they’re easy to combine with the typical neutral fall/winter shades you’re used to wearing, can be used for multiple occasions, and also allow you to create a unique color statement, making them especially perfect for streetwear fashion.

Whether your client wants function or fashion, these 14 shades will give them something that’s wearable far beyond the fall/winter season.

Stand Out in Neutrals

This season’s core hues are great for making singular color statements and also provide a foundation for creating rich color combinations.

• Earthy Sandstone recalls nature walks and sandy beaches: This neutral embraces Pantone’s “less is more” philosophy for the season. An easy color to pair with more saturated tones or other neutrals, Sandstone flatters all skin tones.
• Say hello to Rose Tan, the grown-up version of Millennial Pink. This dusky shade adds a touch of color and composure.
• Pantone calls warm Peach Nougat “nurturing” and “inviting,” a bright, creamy shade that inspires happiness.
• Almond Oil is a smooth, subtle and sophisticated off-white that’s a go-to color, especially for athleisure and streetwear styles.
• Pantone’s Sleet is a “timeless gray that’s dependable, solid and everlasting”—basically, this is the medium gray that goes with everything.
  
  

Selling Strategy: Streetwear, a category that’s blown up tremendously thanks to celebs, influencers and Gen Zers, is more popular than ever. Neutrals like Sandstone and Sleet fit perfectly in this category, especially when using them for head-to-toe looks in matching tracksuits (or coordinated hoodies and joggers), which you’ve seen from brands like Gucci, Yeezy and Supreme.
Sustainability continues to be huge, so neutrals and off-whites speak to a more natural or un-dyed feel. Almond Oil echoes a more vintage, natural vibe, communicating that growing push toward eco-friendliness. Target eco-conscious, sustainable programs and outdoor sports enthusiasts, with this color.

Plus, perfectly pair the new neutrals with this season’s brighter colors like Samba and Magenta Purple to make the youth market smile. Speaking of younger wearers, creamy shades like Rose Tan and Peach Nougat offer a warmth and brightness that’s perfect for sororities.

Turn Up the Heat (and Volume)
Reds and oranges communicate effervescence, authority, enthusiasm and confidence. This season’s power hues offer something a little different:

• Amberglow is the perfect “notice us” shade to pair with a warm neutral like Sandstone or Almond Oil. For clients who want to exude self-confidence and creativity, this is their shade.
• As a full-bodied red, Pantone describes Samba as pulsing with “an upbeat energy.” This hue adds a warm, energetic vibe to any outfit.
• The perfect meld of red and oxblood, Fired Brick is strong, sturdy and adds gravitas for industries that want to inspire trust and loyalty in their customers.
• Red’s playful cousin, Pantone’s Magenta Purple is “hypnotic, intriguing and mesmerizing.” Consider it a hipper version of prior seasons’ lilac shades.

Selling Strategy: In the wholesale market, we’ve seen reds, oranges and purples make a big impact. Amberglow and Samba offer customers a vibrant backdrop, that’s especially great for black-and-white graphics. When your customer wants to send a memorable message and get people’s attention, these colors will do the job.

Also, consider suggesting similar colors for virtual event staff shirts, premium uniforms or statement giveaways like totes and caps.

Kick Up Confidence in Blues and Greens

This season, the hottest blues and greens come in multiple shades of brightness, saturation and richness, so there’s a hue for everyone:

• For brands that describe themselves as “optimistically rebellious,” Green Sheen is the perfectly bold, acidic-green shade that stands out, and not in a cheeky way.
• A deep cooling blue-green, Ultramarine Green “exudes self-assurance and poise.” Think of this shade as a more subdued version of emerald green.
• The most neutral of all this season’s greens, Military Olive is a strong foundational tone that communicates strength, stability and power.
• Classic Blue is definitely the farthest thing from singing the blues. In fact, Pantone says this boundless hue is “evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky” and opens us up to “a world of possibilities.”
• The royal-meets-navy Blue Depths create an air of mystery. Designers are featuring these deeper tones more often now, in place of the electric blues we’ve seen used in past seasons.

Selling Strategy: Green Sheen and Ultramarine Green will work perfectly for brands or virtual events associated with health, wellness or fitness. Think: gyms, nutritional companies, energy beverage companies or lifestyle brands. Marketing and tech companies are also good candidates for pitching these shades to.

Grounded shades like Military Olive, Classic Blue and Blue Depths appeal to wearers of all ages and work especially well for use in corporate collections and company store offerings. Pitch white colored logos or graphics, so designs will really get noticed on these deeper tones. These hues also work for streetwear styles that include hoodies, joggers or matching suits.

When you’re pitching these color stories, show your clients color swatches from Pantone, alongside garments in similar shades. Don’t forget to share decorated samples if you can, to show your buyer the impact of the whole color story—and how it’ll propel their brand forward.

James Andres is the Content Manager for S&S Activewear. Contact: [email protected] .