Trend forecasters at WGSN and color experts at Coloro believe that Digital Lavender—otherwise known as Coloro: 134-67-16—will be the color of the year for 2023. Despite the fact that the experts are teaming up to choose a zeitgeist-defining pigment nearly two years in advance, the forecasters note that Digital Lavender already has something of an online presence, which will gradually manifest in the real world as the line between virtual and terrestrial spaces continues to blur. Simultaneously, the color taps into existing trends that point toward the increased interest in serene hues, as cited by other forecasters making predictions in recent months.
In that sense, the color not only reflects what we’re all after in our lives, but how we live at a time when one can socialize via video games and buy digital furniture using cryptocurrencies. “As consumers find solace and comfort inhabiting the virtual space, the influence of video games and virtual realities will become all-encompassing, distorting the boundaries between our online and offline existence,” Coloro head of content Joanne Thomas told Cosmetics Business. “Digital Lavender, our Color of the Year for 2023, signifies that stability, serenity, and digital escapism that so many of us have built into our recuperative rituals to both protect and improve our mental health in challenging times.”
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While Digital Lavender led the proceedings, Color and WGSN showcased four additional key colors it believes will define the spring/summer 2023 season. Luscious Red (Coloro: 010-46-36) registers as “hyper real,” “immersive,” and “sensorial.” Sundial (Coloro: 028-59-26) is “authentic,” “humble,” and “organic.” Not far from Digital Lavender, Tranquil Blue (Coloro: 114-57-24) evokes a sense of clear and calm stillness. Finally, the “invigorating” Verdigris (Coloro: 092-38-21) straddles retro and digital aesthetics. Fittingly for the broader theme, the presentation sees each color presented in the form of surreal 3D animations.
Though we’ll all want to make sure we get through 2021 before even really thinking about what colors will define 2023, Coloro and WGSN’s prediction stakes a bold claim about how the legacy of COVID-19 could reshape our aesthetic preferences even after the pandemic (hopefully) ends. So if you see prices for some lavender-looking NFTs skyrocketing in the near future, don’t be too surprised.
