Pantone Color Institute may have settled on a shade of white, which it whimsically calls ‘cloud dancer’, as the colour of the year for 2026, but it has not gone down well with the design community.

Pantone’s intention in choosing this shade was to bring some calmness and serenity in an increasingly noisy world.

But, instead, it has ended up creating more noise as critics have slammed the influential institute for being tone deaf in choosing a hue that evokes white supremacy at a time when diversity and inclusion efforts are facing a threat in countries like the US.

Pantone, which usually looks at cultural, political and social currents and trends before expressing it through the language of colour, settled on ‘cloud dancer’ as, it said, it represented new beginnings and a fresh start, and also conveyed honesty and authenticity.

It’s not a cold white, which could have been icy and sterile, but a warmer note that is billowy and balanced, it said.

Fashion designers could think in terms of feathers, interior designers could play with it beautifully against natural wood and stone, while marketers could use it in packaging to convey a clean, uncluttered and eco-conscious feeling. The intention is, no doubt, good but the choice has again thrown up more conflict.

Falling back into vintage

Non-conformity, escapism and self-preservation are among the top trends of 2026, says Pinterest Predicts, the annual forecasting report of the highly visual platform used by designers, marketers and interior specialists.

In 2026, consumers will seek comfort, authenticity and optimism to quiet the constant noise of the world and social media, says Pinterest Predicts, as it lays bare 21 top trends for the year ahead.

Consumers will find relief in everyday routine rituals as they seek comfort.

Also, the five-year plan is dead as most consumers can’t envision a future beyond 24 months. “People are seeking grounded optimism in the present, with escapism as their emotional fuel,” notes the report.

Nostalgia spells comfort, so this could translate into vintage looks, with laces, brooches and pins making a comeback.

The platform even predicts a letter-writing renaissance as GenZ, which anyway posts less, turns to stationery and makes a performance art. The aesthetic for the year ahead is “poetcore” — think turtlenecks and satchels.

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Published on December 15, 2025