Written by Rona Wheeldon
July 17, 2018
Add impact to your floral designs with this year's selected dramatic shade of purple!
Background
Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute, a consulting service which forecasts global colour trends, has declared a particular colour 'Color of the Year'. And it's said to connect with the zeitgeist.
This year, ultra violet is their favoured hue and they feel it 'communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking that points us toward the future'. If you'd like to read more about their decision surrounding this year's colour, simply pop over to the Pantone Color Institute website.
As soon as the announcement was made back in January, media interest ensued with articles in newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, The Guardian and Elle Decor.
Fashion, interiors and art have been inspired by this evocative colour. During Milan Fashion Week, Gucci's Spring/Summer 2018 collection was not only presented under an ultra violet strobe light, but a number of the designs were head-to-toe ultra violet too, from a jumpsuit and shimmering gown to velvet trousers.
Interiors-wise, paint manufacturer Valspar launched an ultra violet paint. And Pantone has partnered with Saatchi Art, the world’s leading online gallery for emerging art, to create a limited-edition collection of official Pantone Color of the Year 2018 prints.
Each year, Pantone's colour choice tends to have a trickle-down effect on the dress colours and decor choices of weddings in the following seasons. And the influence can also be felt in the floristry industry.
Thankfully, there are lots of flowers in this vibrant shade available at the Flower Market at New Covent Garden Market. And here's an overview of just some of the ultra violet blooms currently in season...
Types
British Flowers
Verbena bonariensis
Echium 'Blue Bedder'
Ageratum
Cornflowers
Lavender
World Flowers
Artichokes
Limonium 'Crystal Dark Blue'
Hydrangea 'Glowing Alps' (Purple)
Sweet peas
Larkspur
Delphinium 'Delphi’s Jewel'
Iris
Mentha 'Purple Sensation'
Aconitum
Eustoma russellianum 'Rosita Blue'
Freesia 'Delta River'
Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'
Campanula medium 'Champion Blue'
Veronica 'Pacific Ocean'
Clematis 'Blue Pirouette'
Vanda Kanchana 'Magic Blue' Orchid
Brodiaea ‘Babylon Pink’
Design Inspiration
Create designs purely featuring ultra violet blooms and you'll find that this bold shade of purple makes a real statement on its own. Or use a range of different shades of purple for a serene palette. Combine it with its complementary colour, yellow, for a clash. Or pair it with pink, the colour it sits next to on the colour wheel, for a harmonious look.
Here are some examples of beautiful floral designs created this year featuring ultra violet flowers...
(Source: McQueens)
(Source: Wildabout)
(Source: Zita Elze)
(Source: That Flower Shop)
(Source: Veevers Carter)
(Source: Paul Thomas)
(Source: Pulbrook & Gould)
(Source: Larry Walshe)
(Source: All for Love)
And let's not forget this incredible dress created by Zita Elze for British Flowers Week 2015!
(Source: British Flowers Week website)
If you'd like some more inspiration for which colours work well with ultra violet, simply head to the Pantone website and scroll down to the 'How to Use the Pantone Color of the Year 2018' section.
Your Photos
(Source: Lush Petals)
(Source: Knot Just Blooms)
(Source: Magnolia the Florist)
(Source: Betty's Flower House)
(Source: Funky Flowers)
(Source: Mansi Florist)
We'd love to see photos of arrangements that you've made using ultra violet blooms from the Flower Market. Just send an email to hello@cgma.co.uk, stating your company name and website address. Or if you prefer, you could post your photo on Instagram or Twitter and tag us with @MarketFlowers. We'll then upload your photos into this section.
And please do ask away below if you have any questions or would like to make any general comments. As always, we'd love to hear from you...
P.S. Doesn't the colour remind you a little of Cadbury's purple, a shade requested by many a bride in the past?
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