Key Colour on the Fall Winter 2016 Catwalks: Bumble Bee Yellow (Geraldine Wharry)

 
Yellow is the pop colour of Fall Winter 2016, bringing an unequivocal splash of fun to the collections, with bright hues becoming the norm across seasons and global markets. Pantone’s 12-0752 Buttercup was announced by the company as one of the key Spring Summer 2016 colour. So it wasn’t a surprise to see yellows in different shades ranging from sunflower to spicy mustard (see Pantone’s 14-0952 Fall 2016 Colour) taking over the recent catwalks. In this report, the focus is on what I have called “Bumble Bee” yellow, which made a strong statement as a head-to-toe look or as a vibrant accent.
 

Influenced by immersive experiences and artists known for bold colour usage such as Sarah Lucas and her 2015 Venice Biennale installation, designers channeled playful and whimsical design. This also reflected the growth of mindfulness practices at schools, workplaces and the success of meditation Apps. Yellow represents the sunrise, rebirth and positivity, in essence happiness. With Cuba now opening its doors to global fashion and more recently Chanel, yellow signals revival, embodied by brave colour statements.
 

 
To name a few Proenza Schouler, Marques Almeida, Delpozo and the likes of emerging brand Esteban Cortazar tapped into yellow’s refreshing offbeat attitude. This was displayed in a variety of fabrications from jersey to leathers, especially impactful on lush surfaces such as faux-fur and velvet. The plush materials, as reflected in Anna Blessmann and Peter Saville‘s Swing Project 3 give a sense that the relational needs to be elevated, encouraging curiosity and touch.
 
Traditionally considered a “not so easy” colour to wear for outdated reasons such as skin tone and shape, yellow is having its glorious moment and is set to continue making an impact for Spring Summer 2017.
 
 
Download your sample of our Fall 2016 Catwalk briefing here



 
Copyright Geraldine Wharry

A trend and design consultancy helping organisations identify innovative trends and integrate them into their products and/or brand strategy. Find out more here