Is Grey the New Black?
2008-06-02 Source：english.chinabuses.com
Summarize：A simple observation that a lot of the vehicles we were seeing seemed to be sporting liveries with a variation on silver and grey, led CBW to wonder if this was a real trend or just our own little fan ...
A simple observation that a lot of the vehicles we were seeing seemed to be sporting liveries with a variation on silver and grey, led CBW to wonder if this was a real trend or just our own little fantasy…
Certainly judging by recent profiles, delivery stories and images received here at CBW, coach (and bus) operators are embracing grey/silver as a livery colour as never before.
But is this part of a wider trend? Well, apparently yes. Brown was the new black in fashion circles, but since late 2006, with a gathering of pace in Autumn 2007, the fashion industry has been awash with ‘Grey is the new Black’ stories, with such style icons as Kate Moss apparently leading the trend, and our shops supposedly awash with little grey dresses.
There is of course a serious point in all this. Honest!
In the early days of the motor car very little consideration was given to colour. Henry Ford’s famous offer of “any colour you choose as long as it is black” pretty well summing up market conditions in those days.
It is now generally believed that fashion design sets colour trends which is then followed by domestic interiors, architecture and lastly automotive design.
However, some commentators would argue that the reality is that, whilst certainly true that fashion design is first to influence the buying public, many automotive colour designers establish their future colour themes coincidentally with fashion and other design areas. What differs are the lead times involved in bringing them to public view.
If you want to get really technical, take a look at BASF Coatings ‘Colour Trends 2008’ report. Where, apparently: ‘the debate on climate protection and heightened environmental awareness is impacting colour trends for cars’.
“The worlds of colour reflect a sustainable symbiosis of nature and technology,” declared BASF Coatings colour designer Michaela Finkenzeller at the presentation of the 2008 colour trend forecast for the automotive industry. Adding: “The new palette of colours, inspired by ecological developments, ranges from new blacks, the trend colour white in its multifaceted variations, rich blues and greens, all the way to pastel colours. And the new silver is nothing like the silver of yesterday, which for years was the dominant colour for cars all over the globe. Its frosty and cool or highly reflective surfaces (Liquid Metal), as well as its ethereally tinted nuances, are absolutely inspiring.
Digging into the report, for Europe it’s silver all the way for the automotive industry. But not just any silvers: “Silver is seeing huge changes. The sheen of the up-and-coming eco-efficient technologies is nothing like the technical silver of yesterday. Here, the interplay of physical states unfolds, challenging the senses. The colours range from ethereal tinted silver nuances, in some cases with frosty and cool surfaces, to highly reflective liquid-metal effects. These colours visualize new technologies of the future that we can only begin to dream of at the moment.” Phew!
But, for how long will grey be in the ascendancy? Each Autumn Pittsburghbased automotive paint giant PPG Industries hosts a colour tour for auto industry officials so they can look at upcoming trends and choose colours they can refine further in their own studios.
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