Mellow Yellow

Being in the world of fashion I regularly like to be in-the-know for what the trends of the next season will bring and what my fellow designers are sharing with the world…more often than not, it’s quite inspiring. Recently it feels like every article I pick up talks of “Yellow” being the color that’s going to take us through 2009 and no it did not stop as being just yellow but rather a specific shade – mimosa (Named Pantone’s color of the year). In line with the depressive times, the reason being that this is the color that’s going to save us by expressing hope and reassurance like no other…

Suddenly a blurry picture conjures in my mind, of men, women, children walking the streets of New York, London, Hong Kong all dressed in Mimosa. Personally I think it would look like the world has been struck by a wave of jaundice, thus am not quite sure how this is suppose to reassure us that it is going to be alright.

At some point last year I remember another brighter shade of yellow being the “in” color, from H & M to Club Monaco to Gucci all had a range of cloths and accessories in a Sun flower yellow. One would think if they were going to choose a yellow that at least it would be this “happier” shade.

All this yellow talk had me wondering what history had to say about yellow and interestingly enough…to the ancient Greeks, yellow denoted air. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that yellow represented earth. To the Navaho, the western mountains are yellow and bring the twilight. To the Hopi, yellow is north. In India it is the symbol of the merchant and farmer, although at one time it was considered the dress of the ascetic. For many cultures yellow is the color of hope and renewal.

By the looks of some of the fall 09 collections thankfully the world will not be dressed in Mimosa, certainly Kanchan Couture will not partake.

Today, Christmas day… I am going to leave the mellow yellow behind in exchange for a Christmas palette of red jeans, a tree green blouse and a Santa hat spreading strength, health and passion.

…Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!