Colour your 2025 with trending hues

Mocha Mousse and Cinnamon Slate are among colour industry players' picks of the year

- Yamini Chinnuswamy

Mocha mousse might sound like a delicious dessert, but it is also the name of a colour - not just any colour, but the Colour of the Year for 2025, according to Pantone.

The company is among the world's leading providers of colour guides and standards across industries such as fashion, advertising and architecture. Every year, its experts survey the global cultural landscape to determine the exact shade that reflects the current zeitgeist.

Ms Laurie Pressman, vice-president of the Pantone Colour Institute, says Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is a rich but mellow brown that exudes "comforting warmth".

As always, the annual announcement attracted admirers and detractors alike. American daily newspaper The Washington Post called it "a win for quiet luxury", but design magazine Dezeen said it was a classic example of "ensh**ification".

On social media, some netizens excitedly shared clothes or make-up palettes matching the shade, while others posted poop emojis.

Brown is not as vibrant or exciting as rainbow colours like violet or red. But, as The Washington Post noted, its earthiness has made it popular among proponents of quiet luxury.

For instance, brown is up there with the most popular colours of the iconic Hermes Birkin bag, and a camel coat is a staple in any stylish jet-setter's wardrobe.

The Pantone Colour Institute created five palettes for Mocha Mousse, four of which highlight how well brown hues can balance bolder colours.

The Uniquely Balanced palette, for instance, incorporates Blue Curacao, a cool shade reminiscent of light teal, and the warm, magenta-like Cattleya Orchid.