Colour of the year: 2017 is given the green light

Many are arguing that Pantone's colour of the year for 2017, a zesty, lime-green called "greenery", is strange or, at the very least, unexpected.

But for trend researchers, predictions have been right on the money.

The colour institute unveiled its 2017 colour of the year last week, as it has done every year since 2000. Since then, the institute has influenced trends in all facets of design, including food, travel, architecture and fashion.

Pantone explains its annual selection as being "a snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture, that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude".

With that considered, the colour goes from being completely unexpected to making perfect sense. The election of Donald Trump in the US, the uncertain political climate in South Africa and, across the globe, economic uncertainty and a rapidly changing world, driven in part by technology and climate change - there's no denying that we are living in tumultuous times.

This informs a growing desire for rejuvenation, and a connection with what is real, and often this means a desire to go back to basics, and to go out in nature.

How will this manifest in terms of fashion and design? Art director and stylist Gabi Kannemeyer, says it's an unexpected but "perfect" selection from Pantone.

"I can already see [queer artist] Angel-Ho rocking those lime-green nails, and I can see myself wearing a green lip colour, or lime-green shoes," she says. "It's an inspiring colour, and after the tough 2016 I hope this refreshing palette is a reflection of the hope 2017 represents."

Kannemeyer adds that she thinks the colour is "fun" and somewhat "rude", conjuring singer Rihanna's costume when the pop star performed Bitch Better Have My Money at the iHeart Radio Music Awards 2015.

The fashion icon's costume was a reflection of a shift that had already begun to take shape as designers including Mary Katrantzou and Michael Kors incorporated the colour in their 2016 spring-summer ranges.

While it wasn't so prominent, hints of the colour could be seen in SA designer Chu Suwannapha's prints of his exuberant SS16 collection, and a more muted shade permeated Nicholas Coutts's SA Menswear SS16 presentation.

Trend forecasters WGSN note that many of their recent reports have reflected the shift, a sharp departure from last year's Pantone pick - a blend of the warm tone they called rose quartz and a tranquil blue known as serenity.