Rendering by VA Studio, inspired by Ricardo Bofills' "La Muralla Roja"
Pastel Culture
For those acquainted with the ebb and flow of trends, it's a well-known fact that they are cyclical in fashion and design. The retreat of pastel hues, yielding the spotlight to more vibrant and assertive tones and vice versa, has been a recurring phenomenon throughout history. In recent years we have witnessed a greater frequency in the revival of pastel aesthetics.
Present-day fashion collections would seem incomplete without the graceful presence of pastel shades, while even a cursory glance at K-pop music videos reveals the pervasive influence of pastel hues, saturating the visual landscape with their gentle allure.
How, then, did the pastel trend manage to captivate individuals across so many different generations?
If we delve into the era of the 1920s, it becomes evident that pastel shades were not only confined to fashion, they were also favoured in interior settings as well. These colors evoke a sense of peace and calm. Unlike the early 2000s, characterized by the novelty and vibrancy of digital culture, where bold colors and maximalist graphics frequently adorned UI, today's penchant for pastels represents a retreat from the relentless demands of hyperconnectivity. They convey a sense of gentleness, ease, and an ethereal quality that becomes increasingly sought after during periods of discord. In times marked by geopolitical turbulence and chaos, the calm aura of pastels within the home stand in stark contrast, offering solace to an overwhelmed public.
During times of fiscal restraint, individuals tend to favor practicality and longevity, particularly with items of substantial investment such as furniture and interiors, thus gravitating towards more neutral tones in anticipation of prolonged use. This inclination is reminiscent of the prevalence of earthy color palettes in the ‘70s, another era marked by economic challenges. In contrast, it is sometimes perceived that in periods of affluence, the spectrum of colors tend to expand.
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Drawing from historical precedent, it becomes evident that pastel hues will inevitably recede once again, making way for more vibrant and assertive colors that carry their own set of emotional and cultural connotations.
