Marsala
Marsala — a reddish clay color — will be everywhere in 2015 Reuters/ Eric Gaillard

Marsala has been chosen as Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2015. What is it all about?

Pantone.com writes that marsala got its name from the fortified wine. It features a delicate and tasteful tone that suggests the richness of an excellent meal, as well as the earth. Marsala has a red-brown base, which is both hearty and stylish at the same time, making it ideal for food, interior design, fashion and beauty.

Marsala, the colour of the year, is ideal for both men and women, and is widely used for clothes and accessories. Because of its versatile hue, Marsala allows people to experiment and use it together with other shades. The colour also looks good on different skin tones, which is why women like to use it for their accessories, apparel and makeup. It is equally great for the lips, nails, eyes, hair and cheeks. When designing homes, Marsala will also be good in providing warmth and comfort.

Marsala is both earthy and sophisticated, making it a very versatile colour. Using matte will blend well with its earthy characteristic, while using sheen will express luxury.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute, stated, "Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability. Marsala, the colour of the year, is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us into its embracing warmth."

Pantone is a standardised colour matching approach that uses the Pantone numbering system to identify various hues. Based on an article by ColorGuide.net, the colours are standardised so that various manufacturers from different places can point to a certain number so that the colours match without directly contacting with each other.

The Pantone choosing Marsala as Colour of the Year involves Pantone looking all over the world for inspirations. The institute usually delves into industries like fashion, entertainment, sports and home design. Films are also looked into to determine the best textures and effects that affect colour. In the past 15 years, Pantone's Colour of the Year has been used by manufacturer to develop new products and in creating innovative designs. Pantone products have inspired creative designs and works for over five decades. Through the Pantone Color Institute, future colour influences are determined so that they are used more effectively.