On Thursday, The Pantone Color Institute selected a warm brown hue to be its 2025 Color of the Year. The institute said "Mocha Mousse" nurtures with its suggestion of the delectable quality of cacao, chocolate and coffee, appealing to our desire for comfort.
The fashion community was surprised by the subdued selection, which is less a color and more a state of being. It's a far cry from the vibrant selections of the past, such as 2012's Tangerine Tango, 2018's Ultra Violet and 2023's Viva Magenta.
Each year, Pantone selects a color that captures the global zeitgeist. The selection for 2025, according the color authority, reflects a growing movement by consumers to align more closely with the natural world.
“Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230) extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe," noted Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute.
Laurie Pressman, the Pantone Color Institute’s vice president, added that Mocha Mousse is inspired by “little treat culture,” which involves embracing life's simple pleasures, such as a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate.
Mocha Mousse unseats Peach Fuzz, Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year. That color's warm and welcoming embrace was said to convey a message of compassion and empathy.
Consumers looking to accessorize Mocha Mousse fashion in 2025 might consider fine jewelry adorned with brown-family gemstones, such as smoky quartz, brown topaz, brown garnet, brown zircon and even brown diamonds.
Those looking for extra depth and a pop of color might look to Pantone's Mocha Mousse color pairings. Neatly complementing the neutral brown of Mocha Mousse are Tendril Green (think green jade, tourmaline, peridot and malachite), Cornflower Blue (think sapphires, blue topaz, aquamarine, indicolite, blue spinel), Viola Purple (think amethyst, purple sapphire, tanzanite, purple garnet, purple spinel) and Rose Tan (think pink diamonds, pink sapphires, morganite, pink garnet and rose quartz).
Typically, Pantone’s yearly selection influences product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.
The Pantone Color Institute originally created the Pantone Color of the Year educational program in 1999 to engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color.
Here are the Pantone Colors of the Year dating back to 2011…
PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz (2024)
PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta (2023)
PANTONE 17-3938 Veri Peri (2022)
PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray (2021)
PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating (2021)
PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue (2020)
PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity (2016)
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
Credits: Color swatch images courtesy of Pantone.