Pantone has announced its Colour of the Year for 2024: Pantone 13-1023, or Peach Fuzz to you and me. As is often the way with the Colour of the Year, the choice for 2024 is a world away from the previous year’s choice, a fleshy magenta.

The soft, “nurturing” pastel orange is said to inspire interaction and encourage people to reach out and touch, a sensation mirrored in the feathery textures seen in the hero imagery. Mentions of wellness and peace abound in the launch materials, which also talk about a backdrop of “turmoil” and a world that, Pantone says, often emphasises “productivity and external achievements”.

“In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a colour radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute’s executive director.

Pantone has partnered with a number of brands across beauty, lifestyle, and home décor brands for the reveal, as well as a collaboration with Motorola, which will be launching special editions of two of its phones in Peach Fuzz next year.

There’s an argument Peach Fuzz looks a little plain on swatches, but comes alive when paired with textural imagery.

pantone.com