IT’S NOT TOO LATE! Colors and Trends of 2017

curated and written by Bill Schaffer AIFD, AAF, PFCI and Kristine Kratt AIFD, PFCI

Even though 2017 is entering June, there is still time to show your clients that you are color-aware and trend-forward. There are so many trends today that it can be overwhelming if you attempt to emulate all of them. Numerous worldwide trends that are occurring in fashion, food and everyday retail adapt well into the floral industry. Three of the 2017 highlights of these many, multi-year, evolving trends are Fusion, Verde and Roots.

Ethnic popularity has forever been on trend. Just a few years ago African colors combined with the colors of India to create a New World Market. In 2016, the awareness of South America as a fashion force introduced neon brights and in 2017 the evolving trend incorporated the hot, sultry tropical styles of Havana into its mix. This blend has created FUSION: a global marketplace of hot pink, orange, green, black, bright blue and turquoise. Containers primarily consist of hand-crafted, artisanal woven baskets and hand-painted ceramics blended with a hodge-podge of other interesting textural materials in bright and whimsical finishes. Painted flowers and foliage were blooming everywhere as tropical flower images had a resurgence of online popularity.

Pantone’s Color-of-the-Year for 2017 is Greenery, but as Laurie Pressman, Vice-President of the Pantone Color Institute stated, ‘Pantone doesn’t create the trend, they report on the world around them’ (from a presentation at Atlanta’s AmericasMart, January 2016). Curating trends is often a difficult procedure, but VERDE has easily come-to-life in our environmentally-conscious world. With our tech-driven society, the freshness of foliage around us promotes a healthier lifestyle and allows us to breathe again. Olive, Moss Green, Eucalyptus, Treetop Green and all shades of green blends with maroon-brown, charcoal grey and mineral blue to create a rich and earthy look and feel. Glass, geometric golds, matte ceramics and natural terra cotta are just some of the textures found in the containers of VERDE. A deep emphasis on cut foliage and plants along with succulents and tilandsia stand on their own in this trend or easily mix with fresh cut green flowers such as green ‘trick’ dianthus, mini-green hydrangea, super green roses, disbuds, hypericum, lisianthus and cymbidiums.

Crisp Whites, Tomato Red, Khaki, Sage Green and Lead Blues bring together this 2017 evolutionary blending of the popular Farm-To-Table tastes with the past and ongoing trends of Grand Lodge, Industrial Chic and French Country. This modern farmhouse feel is natural, clean and simple with textural elements that add interest to balance its neutral color story. ROOTS is comfortable in its organic elements of reclaimed wood, herbs and plants. Well-loved furnishings are reflected in ROOTS’ contrasting textures; weathered and crisp, rough and smooth, and shiny and matte are all found in the containers of galvanized tin, recycled glass, patinated metallics and wire-baskets. Flower colors trend toward neutrals of whites and green accented by pops of red, blue, purple, lavender and yellow.

Trends that come and go are referred to as micro trends, but it is never too late to adjust your offerings by studying longterm macro trends. Macro trends can evolve over several years allowing your product lines to stay fresh as they are integrated with the hottest variations of the emerging changes.