Mocha Mousse: Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2025
Published 05 December 2024
Global colour system manufacturer Pantone has announced Mocha Mousse (TCX 17-1230) as its forecast Colour of the Year 2025. The mellow yet elegant brown hue is cited as an “unpretentious classic” that conjures feelings of warmth and contentment.
Last year, the company chose Peach Fuzz (TCX 13-1023) – a soft and cosy peach tone designed to inspire compassion, empathy and connection. Its 2025 successor taps into an ongoing need for comfort. Earthy, grounding, and evocative of chocolate and coffee, it offers to bring harmony into an ever-changing world, serving as “a well-deserved treat”.
“Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic [...] Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe. [...] It presents a discreet and tasteful touch of glamour.”
While these shifting perceptions of brown are, in part, being driven by the rise of quiet luxury (thanks to its neutral stance and connections to nature and craftsmanship), concerns around sustainability and cost efficiency are also having an impact. As a seasonless, genderless, and highly versatile colour group, browns are becoming increasingly significant.
We explore the importance of timeless neutrals in our S/S 2025 Colour & Materials Directions. See Homespun and our Colour Evolution for more, noting fundamental hues Brandy Snap and Branch.