Color of clothing

Last updated

Model in a designer gown reflecting the current fashion trend at an Haute couture fashion show, Paris, 2011 E1266601 (5398889640).jpg
Model in a designer gown reflecting the current fashion trend at an Haute couture fashion show, Paris, 2011
The transformative power of clothes, the impact of changes in colors and style. A video on social expression through dress.

Color is an essential aspect of the aesthetic properties of clothing. The color of clothing has a significant impact on one's appearance. Our clothes communicate about us and reveal our social and economic standing. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Significance

Color is a visual characteristic that is described by terms like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple etc. Typically, it is the color of an object that attracts the most attention. [6] Color is one of the primary properties that is noticed when a consumer makes a decision to buy a dress. The colors are distinctive and distinguishable; we frequently refer to clothing by its color, for instance, a "blue shirt." [7]

Self decoration

Decoration of self is prevalent in societies, and self-decoration is a fundamental characteristic of humans. Decorative values of clothing are regarded as "primary if not the most primary." [8] Hence, as a decorative element, color plays a critical part in meeting the necessary criterion.

Aesthetic comfort

Colors create aesthetic comfort when combined with fabric construction, the finish of the clothing material, garment fitting, style, and fashion compatibility. All these elements collectively contribute to satisfying our visual perception. [1] [4] [5]

Symbolic representations

Preah Pithu T Monks - Siem Reap Preah Pithu T Monks - Siem Reap.jpg
Preah Pithu T Monks - Siem Reap

Historically, different societies have set their own restrictions and norms for different clothing. For example, during the Tudor period, the crimson red color was not allowed in the ranks below the “knights of the garter.” [9] During the Renaissance era, the significance of clothing color increased, with specific colors reserved for the upper class and royalty. Sumptuary laws were created in medieval Europe, which restricted the wearing of expensive colors such as purple, obtained from seashells of the Mediterranean to the nobility. [10]

Colors of clothing have specific associations with certain types of clothing styles and symbolize cultural beliefs. Blue, for example, is closely associated with denim. [11]

Social significance

Colors have social, cultural and political significance. Clothing colors also discriminates. In the past, some societies and cultures have adopted unconventional fashion trends. Pink and blue, for example, have a gender stereotype. Gender stereotypes can be seen not only on the color of clothing, but also regarding clothing being genderly classified.Such as jeans for men, hence skirts for women. These gender stereotypes also classified by colors such as pink for women, hence blue for men. [13] In Hinduism, for example, widows are required to wear white, and in contrast to this Brides in western cultures wear white wedding gowns. In Christianity, the color black is associated with mourning. [14] [15]

Identity

US President George W. Bush and Laura Bush attend funeral services Friday, April 8, 2005, for the late Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square. George W. Bush John Paul II funeral.jpg
US President George W. Bush and Laura Bush attend funeral services Friday, April 8, 2005, for the late Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.

Clothing color represents the identity of political parties, sports teams, and various professions. The Bharatiya Janata Party uses the saffron color in their promotional activities. [16] Cricket whites is a type of white colored uniform worn in the sports of cricket. A white coat is a smock worn by professionals in the medical field or by those involved in laboratory work. There are various terms denoting groups of working individuals based on the colors of their collars worn at work. (See: Designation of workers by collar color)

Uniform

A uniform depicts the use of a similar color of clothing in a group, organization, or profession.

School uniform

A school uniform is a standardized outfit worn by students of an educational institution.

Military uniform

Russian Ground Forces officers during the 2019 Moscow Victory Day Parade in full dress uniform. Moscow Victory Day Parade (2019) 51.jpg
Russian Ground Forces officers during the 2019 Moscow Victory Day Parade in full dress uniform.

A standardized dress worn by military personnel and paramilitary groups of various nations.

Political uniform

A political uniform is distinctive clothing worn by members of a political movement.

Sportswear

A Standardized sportswear may also function as a uniform for sports teams. In team sports, opposing teams is usually identified by their clothing colors, while individual team members can be identified by the back number on their shirt.

Dress or Garments by color names

Fashion

Chanel's Timeless Little Black Dress Modeled, 2011 Hanel's little black dress (6330181828).jpg
Chanel's Timeless Little Black Dress Modeled, 2011

Color of clothing is a key factor in capturing people's attention and persuading them to purchase a product. [17]

Quotes

To me, clothing is a form of self-expression. There are hints about who you are in what you wear

Marc Jacobs [18] :472

The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you.

Psychology

Psychologists believe that the color of our clothing influences our stress levels and moods. Color enhances a person's experience of their surroundings. [20] [21]

Literature

The color saffron is associated with the goddess of dawn (Eos in Greek mythology and Aurora in Roman mythology) in classical literature:

Cymon and Iphigeneia c. 1884 by Frederic Leighton - saffron suffuses the canvas at sunrise Lord Frederic Leighton - Cymon and Iphigenia - Google Art Project.jpg
Cymon and Iphigeneia c. 1884 by Frederic Leighton - saffron suffuses the canvas at sunrise

Homer's Iliad : [22]

Now when Dawn in robe of saffron was hastening from the streams of Okeanos, to bring light to mortals and immortals, Thetis reached the ships with the armor that the god had given her. (19.1)

Virgil's Aeneid : [23]

Aurora now had left her saffron bed,

And beams of early light the heav'ns o'erspread,

When, from a tow'r, the queen, with wakeful eyes,

Saw day point upward from the rosy skies.

Value addition

Greige goods have limited shades ranging from offwhite to white, colors add value to the products. Application of color involves many textile arts such as dyeing, printing, painting, etc. [24] Royal blue dye is one of the costliest dye to obtain the Royal blue hues. [25] Different colors have different cost because of longer and shorter dye cycles. [26]

Application

Colors can be applied to textiles in a variety of ways, the most common of which are dyeing and printing. Dyeing is a uniform color application, whereas in printing, color is applied in certain patterns. Coloring has a set of procedures.

Seasons and colors

Retailers and buyers design the merchandise as per the seasonal forecast. [27] Primarily, there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Some fast fashion brands, like Zara, have more than four seasonal changes on their shelves. [28] [29]

There are professional organizations that forecast colors, such as the Color Marketing Group, Color Association of the United States, and International Colour Authority.

Color matching systems

Pantone is a standardized color reproduction system that conveys colors through color matching systems. These standards can be used by manufacturers all over the world. [30]

Production

Textile dyeing mills use color standards in physical and digital forms for the reproduction of these colors. Physical color standards are cut pieces of reference colors, whereas digital color standards are known as "QTX files" (Spectral data), which is a more efficient method. [31]

When working with color matching and quality control software, it is possible to import a QTX file. With regard to color, a QTX file is simply a text file containing reflectance measurements for the color in question. [32]

Measurement (Delta-E)

Color is a subjective visual perception that varies between individuals. There are spectrophotometers that can objectively compare spectral values and colors. Though colors are viewed visually and digitally, both depend on the customer's requirements. [33] [34] Delta E (dE-CMC) expresses the difference between the original standard and the reproduction.

Alternative technologies for color application

In Morpho butterflies such as Morpho helena the brilliant colors are produced by intricate firtree-shaped microstructures too small for optical microscopes. Butterfly Morpho rhetenor helena (M) KL.jpg
In Morpho butterflies such as Morpho helena the brilliant colors are produced by intricate firtree-shaped microstructures too small for optical microscopes.

Structural coloration

Microstructures that interfere with the light cause structural coloration. Some examples of structural coloration include bird feathers and butterfly wings. (see:Iridescence)

Nano coating (of microscopically structured surfaces fine enough to interfere with visible light) in textiles for biomimetics is the new method of structural coloration without dyes. [35] In structural coloration, interference effects are used to create colors instead of using pigments or dyes. [36]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple</span> Range of colors with the hues between blue and red

Purple is a color similar in appearance to violet light. In the RYB color model historically used in the arts, purple is a secondary color created by combining red and blue pigments. In the CMYK color model used in modern printing, purple is made by combining magenta pigment with either cyan pigment, black pigment, or both. In the RGB color model used in computer and television screens, purple is created by mixing red and blue light in order to create colors that appear similar to violet light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nurse uniform</span> Traditional professional nursing uniform

A nurse uniform is attire worn by nurses for hygiene and identification. The traditional nurse uniform consists of a dress, apron and cap. It has existed in many variants, but the basic style has remained recognizable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese clothing</span> Japanese clothing, traditional and modern

There are typically two types of clothing worn in Japan: traditional clothing known as Japanese clothing, including the national dress of Japan, the kimono, and Western clothing, which encompasses all else not recognised as either national dress or the dress of another country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-shirt</span> Style of inexpensive fabric shirt

A T-shirt is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a crew neck, which lacks a collar. T-shirts are generally made of stretchy, light, and inexpensive fabric and are easy to clean. The T-shirt evolved from undergarments used in the 19th century and, in the mid-20th century, transitioned from undergarments to general-use casual clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink</span> Pale tint of red

Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, sensitivity, tenderness, sweetness, childhood, femininity, and romance. A combination of pink and white is associated with innocence, whereas a combination of pink and black links to eroticism and seduction. In the 21st century, pink is seen as a symbol of femininity, though it has not always been seen this way. In the 1920s, light red, which is similar to pink, was seen as a color that reflected masculinity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-collar worker</span> Working-class person who performs manual labour

A blue-collar worker is a person who performs manual labor or skilled trades. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled labor. The type of work may involve manufacturing, warehousing, mining, excavation, carpentry, electricity generation and power plant operations, electrical construction and maintenance, custodial work, farming, commercial fishing, logging, landscaping, pest control, food processing, oil field work, waste collection and disposal, recycling, construction, maintenance, shipping, driving, trucking, and many other types of physical work. Blue-collar work often involves something being physically built or maintained. In social status, blue-collar workers generally belong to the working class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy blue</span> Very dark shade of the color blue which almost appears as black

Navy blue is a dark shade of the color blue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey</span> Intermediate color between black and white

Grey or gray is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma and therefore no hue. It is the color of a cloud-covered sky, of ash, and of lead.

Clothing in India varies with the different ethnicities, geography, climate, and cultural traditions of the people of each region of India. Historically, clothing has evolved from simple garments like kaupina, langota, achkan, lungi, sari, to perform rituals and dances. In urban areas, western clothing is common and uniformly worn by people of all social levels. India also has a great diversity in terms of weaves, fibers, colors, and the material of clothing. Sometimes, color codes are followed in clothing based on the religion and ritual concerned. The clothing in India also encompasses a wide variety of Indian embroidery, prints, handwork, embellishments, and styles of wearing clothes. A wide mix of Indian traditional clothing and western styles can be seen in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military uniform</span> Standardised military dress

A military uniform is a standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barong tagalog</span> Filipino embroidered long-sleeved formal shirt

The barong tagalog, more commonly known simply as barong, is an embroidered long-sleeved formal shirt for men and a national dress of the Philippines. Barong tagalog combines elements from both the precolonial native Filipino and colonial Spanish clothing styles. It is traditionally made with sheer textiles (nipis) woven from piña or abacá; although in modern times, cheaper materials like organza silk, ramie or polyester are also used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruff (clothing)</span> Tightly gathered collar set into formal or informal pleats

A ruff is an item of clothing worn in Western, Central and Northern Europe, as well as Spanish America, from the mid-16th century to the mid-17th century. The round and flat variation is often called a millstone collar after its resemblance to millstones for grinding grain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children's clothing</span> Clothing worn by children

Children's clothing or kids' clothing is clothing for children who have not yet grown to full height. Children's clothing is often more casual than adult clothing, fit for play and rest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khmer traditional clothing</span> Traditional clothing of the Khmer people

Khmer traditional clothing refers to the traditional styles of dress worn by the Khmer people throughout history. Tracing their origins back to the early Common Era, the customary styles of dress worn by Khmer people predate the indianization of Southeast Asia. The evolution of these clothing customs can be traced through archaeological artifacts from the 6th century to the post-Angkorian period, evolving from the simple pre-Angkorian Sampot to vibrant and intricately embroidered silk garments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scrubs (clothing)</span> Lightweight, washable clothing worn by hospital staff or other medical personnel

Scrubs, sometimes called surgical scrubs or nursing scrubs, are the sanitary clothing worn by physicians, nurses, dentists and other workers involved in patient care. Originally designed for use by surgeons and other operating room personnel, who would put them on when sterilizing themselves, or "scrubbing in", before surgery, they are now worn by many hospital personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing in ancient Egypt</span>

Ancient Egyptian clothes refers to clothing worn in ancient Egypt from the end of the Neolithic period to the collapse of the Ptolemaic Kingdom with the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC. Egyptian clothing was filled with a variety of colors. Adorned with precious gems and jewels, the fashions of the ancient Egyptians were made for not only beauty but also comfort. Egyptian fashion was created to keep cool while in the hot desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese clothing during the Meiji period</span> History of Japanese clothing throughout the Meiji period

Japanese clothing during the Meiji period (1867–1912) saw a marked change from the preceding Edo period (1603–1867), following the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate between 1853 and 1867, the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854 – which, led by Matthew C. Perry, forcibly opened Japanese ports to American vessels, thus ending Japan's centuries-long policy of isolation – and the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which saw the feudal shogunate dismantled in favour of a Western-style modern empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gendered associations of pink and blue</span> Cultural attribution of colors to genders

The colors pink and blue are associated with girls and boys respectively in large parts of the Western world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aesthetics (textile)</span> Concept of serviceability of textiles

Aesthetics in textiles is one of the basic concepts of serviceability of textiles. It is determined by the perception of touch and sight. Aesthetics imply the appearance and attraction of textile products; it includes the color and texture of the material. It is a statement about the end user (consumer) and the target market. When combined with fabric construction, the finish of the clothing material, garment fit, style, and fashion compatibility, colours create an aesthetic comfort. All of these elements work together to satisfy our visual perception. Aesthetics incorporates the role of evaluation also.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue in culture</span>

The color blue has been important in culture, politics, art and fashion since ancient times. Blue was used in ancient Egypt for jewelry and ornament. In the Renaissance, blue pigments were prized for paintings and fine blue and white porcelain. in the Middle Ages, deep rich blues made with cobalt were used in stained glass windows. In the 19th century, the colour was often used for military uniforms and fashion.

References

  1. 1 2 "Aesthetic Comfort - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  2. Richmond, Virginia P.; McCroskey, James C.; Hickson, Mark (2008). Nonverbal Behavior in Interpersonal Relations. Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. p. 37. ISBN   978-0-205-48669-4.
  3. "What do you first notice about anyone?". Times of India Blog. 2018-12-23. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  4. 1 2 Faiers, Jonathan; Bulgarella, Mary Westerman (2016-11-17). Colors in Fashion. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 2. ISBN   978-1-4742-7369-5.
  5. 1 2 Weber, Jeanette (1990). Clothing: Fashion, Fabrics, Construction. Glencoe Publishing Company. p. 78. ISBN   978-0-02-640161-6.
  6. Maycock, Mark M. (1896). A Class-book of Color: Including Color Definitions, Color Scaling, and the Harmony of Colors. Milton Bradley. p. 47.
  7. Steele, Valerie (2015-08-01). The Berg Companion to Fashion. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 159. ISBN   978-1-4742-6470-9.
  8. Tortora, Phyllis G. (1998). Survey of historic costume : a history of Western dress. Internet Archive. New York : Fairchild Publications. p. 1. ISBN   978-1-56367-142-5.
  9. "A Point of View: The power of wearing red". BBC News. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  10. Kodžoman, Duje (2019-06-10). "The psychology of clothing: meaning of Colors, Body Image and Gender Expression in Fashion". Textile & Leather Review. 2 (2): 90–103. doi: 10.31881/TLR.2019.22 . S2CID   150755649.
  11. "Why blue jeans are going green". BBC News. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  12. Sen, Ragini; Wagner, Wolfgang; Howarth, Caroline (2013-09-30). Secularism and Religion in Multi-faith Societies: The Case of India. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 38. ISBN   978-3-319-01922-2.
  13. Hammond, Claudia. "The 'pink vs blue' gender myth". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  14. The Indian Journal of Social Work. Department of Publications, Tata Institute of Social Sciences. 1986. p. 67.
  15. Ferguson, George; Ferguson, George Wells (1961). Signs & Symbols in Christian Art. Oxford University Press. p. 151. ISBN   978-0-19-501432-7.
  16. "BJP workers distribute saffron shawls, light 93 lamps on Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday". The Indian Express. 2017-12-25. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  17. Steele, Valerie (2015-08-01). The Berg Companion to Fashion. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 159. ISBN   978-1-4742-6470-9.
  18. Fleet, David; Pajdla, Tomas; Schiele, Bernt; Tuytelaars, Tinne (2014-08-13). Computer Vision -- ECCV 2014: 13th European Conference, Zurich, Switzerland, September 6-12, 2014, Proceedings, Part I. Springer. ISBN   978-3-319-10590-1.
  19. "47 of the Best Coco Chanel Quotes About Fashion, Life & Luxury!". Stylishly Me. 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
  20. "Color Psychology: What Colors Should You Wear and Why". Science of People. 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  21. Clothing, Little River (2019-06-25). "Dress Your Mood with Color in Clothing". Little River Clothing. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  22. Next Page. "The Iliad - Free Online Book". Publicliterature.org. Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  23. The Aeneid by Virgil - Free Ebook. 1995-03-01. Retrieved 2016-02-27 via Gutenberg.org.
  24. "Textile - Dyeing and printing". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  25. "Why blue is the costliest colour". The Guardian. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  26. Lewis, David M.; Rippon, John A. (2013-05-20). The Coloration of Wool and Other Keratin Fibres. John Wiley & Sons. p. 120. ISBN   978-1-118-62510-1.
  27. Jacobs, Bel. "What will fashion be like 20 years from now?". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  28. Jackson, Tim; Shaw, David (2004-09-20). The Fashion Handbook. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN   978-1-134-52112-8.
  29. "ZARA: Achieving the "Fast" in Fast Fashion through Analytics". Digital Innovation and Transformation. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  30. "CMYK, RGB & Pantone for Print Marketing". Ballantine. 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  31. AATCC Review. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. 2005. p. 13. In the meantime , many retailers and their mills communicate with job files or qtx files to exchange spectral reflectance data . Spectral data may be emailed or shared via color communication systems
  32. "QTX Files - CSI Wiki" . Retrieved 2021-07-03.
  33. "colour - The perception of colour". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  34. Elert, Glenn. "Color". The Physics Hypertextbook. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  35. Shao, J.; Liu, G.; Zhou, L. (2016-01-01). "Biomimetic nanocoatings for structural coloration of textiles". Active Coatings for Smart Textiles. Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles: 269–299. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-100263-6.00012-5. ISBN   9780081002636.
  36. Structural colour under the microscope! Feathers, beetles and butterflie!! , retrieved 2021-07-04