Thomas Pink uses Rose Quartz and Serenity - PANTONE's key colours of 2016 - for new shirt range.

Perhaps it is in honour of the birth of a new royal baby girl called Charlotte together with her older brother Prince George that affect the decision to name two soft colours as the key Colour of the Year 2016.

For the first time, a blending of two colours has been chosen as Colour Of The Year 2016 by world colour authority - PANTONE: Rose Quartz and Serenity (PANTONE 13-1520 & PANTONE 15-3919).

The two shades are paired to express feelings related to mindfulness & well-being : calm, relaxation, reassurance, security, order and peace. "Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times," according to Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Colour Institute™. 

The colours selected as our Pantone Color of the Year 2016 were taken from the PANTONE FASHION, HOME + INTERIORS Color System, the most widely used and recognized color standards system for fashion, textile, home and interior design. PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz are included in this year's collection of 210 new shades.

Meanwhile, maximising on this pairing of shades is British shirt maker Thomas Pink which has collaborated with Pantone to curate a collection inspired by the two colours.

“The use of colour has long been a pillar of the Thomas Pink brand and something our customer has always embraced to express his distinctive point of view,” said Florence Torrens, Global Creative Director for Thomas Pink. “The 2016 Colour of the Year allows our gentleman to use fashion to convey a sense of stability, constancy and a quiet authority – traits that are necessary in today’s turbulent world.”

“The Pantone Colour of the Year selection captures the essence of what we see taking place in our culture during a specific moment in time, serving as an expression of a mood and an attitude on the part of the consumers,” said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Colour Institute™. “We are seeing more and more men let go of traditional colour associations; allowing themselves to experiment with their wardrobe. As a brand known for leading the way with colour in men’s fashion, the collaboration between Pantone and Thomas Pink for our 2016 Colour of the Year selection is a natural choice.”

The Pantone 2016 Colour of the Year is offered in shirts and accessories throughout Thomas Pink’s collection both as seasonal and core pieces. Highlights include the Gibson classic fit shirt in superior, 100s two-fold cotton, the Caley knit tie, the Robin paisley pocket square and the Odd Spot sock among other key looks.

Pantone’s colour standards are used in multiple industries, from fashion to home furnishings and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. For 16 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in these industries.  The experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even up-coming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.

About Thomas Pink:

Part of the Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton group, Thomas Pink is a British shirt maker with flagship stores in London’s Jermyn Street, Madison Avenue, New York and Rue Francois Premier, Paris. Altogether there are more than 100 stores around the world – in USA, France, Mexico, Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Canada, South Africa, India and in the UK. As well as shirts for men and women Pink carries a wealth of luxurious silk ties, tailoring, knitwear and accessories. 

Thomas Pink presents SS2016 against a botanical garden backdrop inspired by Hockney and Beaton

British brand Thomas Pink's new Spring/Summer 2016 collection unveiled this week at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, as part of London Collections Men, is a celebration of British eccentric charm and character.

THOMAS PINK SHOWCASES SPRING/SUMMER 2016 COLLECTION AGAINST A BOTANICAL BACKDROP INSPIRED BY DAVID HOCKNEY AND CECIL BEATON

Presented against a botanical backdrop, more potting shed than conservatory, the collection was showcased on models as well as mannequins. 

Florence Torrens, Creative Director at Thomas Pink, said that inspiration for the presentation came from a photograph taken by artist Peter Schlesinger in 1970, in which great friends David Hockney and Cecil Beaton – the celebrated British artists - are caught reclining carelessly on rattan furniture surrounded by potted pelargoniums and begonias. “It’s wonderfully British and off-beat botanical - perfectly capturing the mood of the Spring/Summer 2016 collection,” said Torrens.  

Frederik Willems, Head of Design at Thomas Pink, adds; “The Spring/Summer 2016 collection celebrates Britain’s charming and eccentric character – taking inspiration from themes as diverse as Brit Pop culture, architectural follies and traditional seaside towns.   From the 90s Brit Pop era to Dunmore Hall in Scotland with its quirky pineapple roof – the season evokes a mood of patriotism and nostalgia in equal measures.” 

Thomas Pink's AW2015 collection marks milestone in wholesale business

It is of course not unusual to see good-looking men having a good time at their favourite drinkery.  But look closely and you’ll notice this is no ordinary bar.

It is in fact the setting for presenting the London-inspired autumn/Winter 15 Collection of British shirt  maker Thomas Pink, which was unveiled earlier this week at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, as part of London Collections: Men.  

The collection was presented against the backdrop of a 30ft ‘long bar’ constructed entirely out of paper. The bar was built using crisp white 315gsm Kendal Manilla paper manufactured by James Cropper, the unique setup provided the perfect blank canvas for the brand’s expanding ready to wear offering. 

Blurring the boundaries between tradition and technology - paper and digital - guests were invited to leave ‘off the cuff’ written reviews on the paper bar using pink pens, which could then be shared via social media.

Each model bartender and punter showcased a different ‘Pink’ look.  Included in this season’s model line-up was Thom Evans (far right in picture above - the former Scottish international rugby union player and contestant of popular reality BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.)

Florence Torrens, Creative Director at Thomas Pink, says; “Shirts will always be at the heart of what we do, but they inspire other pieces to complete the look.  At Thomas Pink we’re broadening our offer to include more tailoring, outerwear and knitwear. To highlight this we worked with James Cropper - the oldest traditional paper mill in the UK - and Flow Creation - a group of highly skilled paper architects - to build an installation echoing the blank canvas of a white shirt. Inspired by the architecture of the ICA building itself, we re-created elements of the room in paper to embellish the bar.”

Frederik Willems, Head of Design at Thomas Pink, says; “Autumn/Winter 15 is inspired by a heady mix of London’s well known landmarks, motifs and characters. From Sir Michael Caine in the 1971 film ‘Get Carter’, to The Coach and Horses pub in Soho, we’ve drawn upon urban influences to create a collection which is daringly bold and eclectic in style. We’ve played with weaves and texture to develop solid colours with subtle design features and added intrigue. Checks and herringbone play a pivotal role throughout.”

Guests and models enjoyed cocktails mixed by Pontoon, made using Hennessy Fine de Cognac and garnished with paper foxes, whilst listening to British classics from The Clash, The Rolling Stones and Pulp. Continuing the iconic London theme, models wore Dr. Martens tasselled loafers.

Thomas Pink’s London presentation precedes its debut at Pitti Uomo currently held in Florence and subsequently Premium International Fashion Trade Show in Berlin.

The brand’s presence in these trade shows marks its move into key European territories and can be cited as a significant milestone in Thomas Pink’s development as a wholesale business.