Weekly SO - the color of the year

 Strong Opinion, because I am quite opinionated.

Let's talk about something that stirred the creative side of the Internet last week... Pantone's Color of the year choice for 2026

If you do a little search, even if only on Instagram, you see there are a few who welcome's the decision, but the majority screams: It is boring! Everything looses color these days! We want real color! White is not even a color technically! 

And whatnot. 

And I am like, wow, finally! 

You all know, that I love and crave color, but then, all the while, I love, LOVE white. True white that is. Not "woolwhite", not "Natural", not "off white", but true, blidingly bright, snow white that is often called "optical white". 

And while I am sick of everything is safe beige, which I find absolutely boring, true (optical) white is not. 

Yes, I do know that white is not "one color", but all the colors all together , also that optical white is not even really "white", but an ever so muted (a very faint shade, very low saturation of) blue or purple, which our eyes see as white. However...

For me that is "true white", which I do not find being a "safe" solution, a coward solution, a boring one either. 

For me white is clean, brave, trustful and hopeful. 

I think I do not have to explain the clean, but why I think wearing (and/or using) white is brave? 

Because if you do you take it on yourself to be seen. To be totally visible. Recognised. Be noticed. Be different. (Can you imagine me in all white at a hard-rock concert, when like 95 % of the audience wore black, and the rest wore dark colors? I did that. Do you know why the lead/singer of my favorite band -which is not a metal band mind you- says, he always knows/see me when I am there?)

Also it is taking a chance. Taking a chance that as soon as you take on that piece of white clothing you might ruin it. As soon as you step out of your door, someone else will ruin it for you. Because it can happen. And do I care? Not really :-) As the ad says, "My mother washes with Persil". Though I not necessarily washing with that brand, I do have several detergent to wash whites, Chlorox, and stain removers, etc.

Which brings me to trust and hope, because wearing white also mean that you trust and hope that whatever happens you can wash it out, you can clean it up. 

With all the crazyness in the world, white offers a moment of calm, a base for all other colors, and point to start. 

Don't get me wrong, I love colors more than the average people, I dream of colors, especially in winters, when everything gets colorless and / or dark, but then, at certain times, like in the summer, when everything is colorful, I crave white. 

So in the sea of complaints and dislikes, I welcome the color of white.