[Color in(人)] The Beginning of Hope 'White'... The Color Loved by Queen Victoria

Color exists closest to our lives. The range of color usage is very broad, from purchasing products we like to the fashion styles chosen by politicians, and sometimes it creates messages or cultures with meaning. As online culture became more widespread due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the importance of visual elements increased. Keeping pace with the era communicated through color, Asia Economy Like It presents trends and analyzes colors used in various fields through the 'Colorin' project with Kim Min-kyung, Korea's first colorist and director of the Korea KMK Color Research Institute.

The limited edition 'Rolls-Royce Ghost Genis,' reflecting white color and limited to 50 units worldwide, boasts an overwhelming aura. Diamonds and accessories embodying the meaning of white, such as Herm?s White Clic Ash and Louis Vuitton Essential V Pearlfection, create a noble atmosphere on their own.
Photo by KMK Color Research Institute, Unsplash

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hee-young] Humans encounter colors both consciously and unconsciously. The number of colors input into our brain in a single day is about 3,700. Colors, once used simply, have become more segmented as quality of life improved. The use of color contributing to environment and cultural composition experienced rapid growth with the onset of industrialization. Colors, becoming more closely connected to daily life, have established themselves as important emotional elements that influence people's minds.

What color do we need most as we move from the bleak year 2020 into 2021? The white color, symbolizing a beginning, and the meeting of January are essential colors in this time when hope and a spirit of challenge are desperately needed.

Colors each have their unique emotions. Among them, white represents cleanliness. It dilutes all colors and creates separating lines, so when white is present with various colors, it has an organizing effect. Conversely, next to other colors, white is used to make those colors stand out more, and it is also called the color of sacrifice and devotion.

When starting something new, people associate symbolic pure white to gain trust and confidence. Buying new clothes before starting or cleaning thoroughly can be seen as actions influenced by the image white holds.

Religious groups have used white to express honesty and purity of heart. An example is the 'White Sunday' church event in medieval Europe. White Sunday was the day of baptism, and everyone had to wear white clothes. Also, on this day, any war was to be suspended in obedience to the pope and church authority. White, as part of culture, became a color symbolizing peace connected to historical events.

Especially, white color often brings to mind the pure white wedding dress. Its origin traces back to Queen Victoria. She loved white color very much, particularly white lace, which was expensive and not affordable for everyone at the time. Queen Victoria made a white wedding dress adorned with lace for her wedding. The wedding dress she wore became a worldwide trend, and thereafter, white lace became a symbol of wealth in Europe. In France, Belgium, and the UK, lace decorations still symbolize elegance.

White color, conveying a neat yet noble feeling, is widely used in products that everyone desires most. Along with black and gray, white is called a neutral color and can create a modern and sophisticated image when used with bright and vivid colors. Therefore, it is considered an essential color used across all industries such as automobiles, electronics, and interior design.

Although white appears as a single color, it can be divided into 99 colors when analyzed by tone. Using off-white tones, ivory white, or cream colors rather than pure white can create a more luxurious and elegant image.

Gucci Alchemist's Garden Winter's Spring: Mimosa

Gucci's Alchemist Garden Winter's Spring Mimosa is contained in a white lacquered glass bottle, evoking a vintage yet elegant atmosphere. Gold lettering and decorations, along with a squirrel symbol, match the off-white color, blending naturally with the bright and joyful scent.

"It can be defined by three words: female, emotion, fiction. The point is that it contains a specialness that only I can have through off-white and gold colors." - Colorist Kim Min-kyung

Stellablanc Stella, Siren

Stellablanc, meaning white in French 'blanc,' gives a pure and noble feeling as its name suggests. The silver premium cap engraved with the letter b and the white container make Stella and Siren shine even more. The simple black font on the white background emphasizes sophistication more than flashy designs and shows simple beauty.

"A hand cream with a simple white aluminum tube and a luxurious metal cap, containing an intense and captivating scent. The lingering fragrance and the case that becomes more unique and stylish the more you use it make you keep reaching for it." - Colorist Kim Min-kyung

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio S Basic

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio S Basic catches the eye with a small but impactful design, resembling a robot in space. The engraved relief on the side asserts its unique presence and breathes life into the plain white background.

"Using black and glossy white highlights simplicity. The color alone might seem rigid, but the rounded head design softens and harmonizes it." - Colorist Kim Min-kyung

General Editor = Reporter Choi Jung-hwa

Planning = Reporter Kim Hee-young

Photography = Photographers Lee Jung-woo, Yang Woo-seung

Nail Art = Nail Artist Jung Soo-yeon

Consultation = Colorist Kim Min-kyung (Director, Korea KMK Color Research Institute)