Color Swatches for the Fashion Industry (2024)

First let’s start with the concept of color. Color is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, blue, yellow, green, etc. Color derives from the spectrum of light (distribution of light power versus wavelength) interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors. Color categories and physical specifications of color are also associated with objects or materials based on their physical properties such as light absorption, reflection, or emission spectra. By defining a color space colors can be identified numerically by their coordinates. The science of color is sometimes called chromatics, colorimetry, or simply color science. It includes the perception of color by the human eye and brain, the origin of color in materials, color theory in art, and the physics of electromagnetic radiation in the visible range (that is, what we commonly refer to simply as light).

Because perception of color stems from the varying spectral sensitivity of different types of cone cells in the retina to different parts of the spectrum, colors may be defined and quantified by the degree to which they stimulate these cells. These physical or physiological quantifications of color, however, do not fully explain the psychophysical perception of color appearance.

Paint companies, furniture companies, and yes fashion companies rely heavily on color.

OK, that sounds simple enough… Now let’s discuss something even more simple for us garmentos to understand. The swatch.

What is a swatch?

A swatch is essentially a sample strip cut from a piece of material. It is a small piece of cloth or textile material used as sample of the fabric.

Typically fabric is produced in large rolls. If the mill wants to keep record of what was produced, they can cut a small piece of the fabric and keep the swatch for their records. Mills, wholesalers, and retailers, utilize swatches to show potential buyers an example of their product. They can also be used by designers for merchandising purposes such ascreating trend boards, etc.

What is a color swatch?

A color swatch is a sampling of color on some sort of substrate such as paper or cloth. It is used as an example for product already produced or it can be used as part of the production process for color review and approvals. In regard to textiles and clothing, it is typically best to review a color swatch made of actual fabric. However, using color swatches on paper is also an important tool used by the industry. Apparel Search suggests using actually fabric swatches as much as possible rather than paper.

Previously Produced Product:

Color swatches can be used by owners of fabric or clothing to show an example to potential buyers. Let’s take for example, a fabric supplier in North Carolina that is trying to sell several large rolls of fabric to a sewing factory in Los Angeles, California. The buyer wants a very particular shade of blue and the mill says they have the exact color. Rather than simply trust the mill, the buyer requests the mill to send a fabric color swatch in the mail. This allows the buyer to see the exact color of the swatch.

It is important to note that every roll of fabric produced may have shade variances from the previously produced roll. There are many factories to be considered from one dye lot to the next. If a factory is purchasing several large rolls, they may wish to review a swatch from each dye lot.

The above example is regarding a fabric supplier, but the similar method would hold true for garment suppliers as well. If a suit manufacturer was asked to show a buyer an example of the fabric that they used to make their suits, they would most likely not sending the buyer an actual suit in the mail. They will send a small color swatch for buyer review (it is best to not cut the swatch from the actual garment which would ruin the item; the suit factory would save production fabric for swatching purposes)

Pre-production & Final Production Process:

Although color can be reviewed in various ways (paper swatches, fabric swatches, digital review, etc.) Apparel Search prefers the use of fabric whenever it is possible. Paper can be used in the earlier stages of theproduction process, but fabric is optimal. In general, fashion designers can use a paper color swatch for initial color discussions, and move to fabric swatches as we move through thepre-production process. Again, use fabric for the entire process if that is possible for your particular project.

It is important to note that when in discussions with clothing factories you should require that when they submit color swatches for approval, they submit with the proper fiber content and fabric construction that you plan to use for final production. For example, you don’t want your dye house to submit to you a color swatch for final color review approval on polyester if your production is planned to be in cotton. You would want them to submit color swatches in the same fiber that they will use in actual production. Also, you don’t want to see the color swatch in twill if your final product will be flannel.

Seeing the color on an actual fabric swatch is the best way to review. It should be on the same content and quality of swatch that you plan on using for the clothing.

Color swatches are also used for testing. For example, they can be used for testing colorfastness, crocking, & bleeding.

You may have fun with theAdobe Color Wheel and thecolor reflex tester.

The apparel industry has companies that provide the service of swatch making. You may want to view thefabric swatch card manufacturers section for possible resources.

Color Swatches for the Fashion Industry (1)

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You may want to learn more aboutfashion colors here in our terms section. Also, learning a little aboutcolor measurement could not be a bad idea.

Thank you for using the Apparel Search website.

Color Swatches for the Fashion Industry (2024)

FAQs

What colors are used in fashion industry? ›

The traditional primary colors are Red, Yellow, and Blue. There is some disagreement and argument as to why red, blue, and yellow are actually not the primary colors. Some people favor CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, also known as Key), or CMY, as the primary colors.

How do I choose a color palette for fashion? ›

How to Match Clothes Using the Color Wheel
  1. Start with analogous colors. ...
  2. Embrace complementary colors. ...
  3. Wear accessories that don't “match.” Unless you're going for a full monochrome look, don't worry about matching your belt to your handbag and shoes. ...
  4. Mix neutral colors. ...
  5. Wear denim as a neutral color.
Jun 7, 2021

What is swatches for fashion design? ›

A textile sample is a piece of cloth or fabric designed to represent a larger whole. A small sample, usually taken from existing fabric, is called a swatch, whilst a larger sample, made as a trial to test print production methods, is called a strike off.

What are basic colors in fashion? ›

Basic colors, the foundation of your closet. These are muted colors like white, grey, beige and navy blue. You can wear them all year round, regardless of season or the latest trend. They'll never go out of style and will always be flattering.

What is the three color rule in fashion? ›

The underlying premise of the three colour rule is to not combine more than three colours in your outfit at any one time. The exception being black and white, which are technically not 'colours' but tones, and can be intermixed as a fourth colour in your outfit.

What is the most popular color in fashion? ›

Blue is the most popular color for both men and women.

How many colors should be in a fashion collection? ›

Stick to Three or Four Colors in Your Color Palette

While there are more than 16 million color combinations recognized internationally, strategically, designers and brands should not choose more than three or four colors for their palette. With too many colors, the garments can overwhelm consumers.

What is color coding in fashion? ›

Color Code Your Wardrobe. A simple and effective technique to “know what you own”… Color coding your wardrobe in your closet makes it simple to find the clothes you're looking for, coordinate your outfits, and creates an order to your hanging and folded clothing that is deeply pleasing to the eye.

Which color is best for fashion brand? ›

The fashion industries often use black for sophistication and glamour, and warm colors such as red, orange and pink for passion, confidence and excitement.

Are swatches still popular? ›

Today, Swatch features a wide range of bioceramic and environmentally friendly watches. While it also produces higher-end mechanical and digital models, it's still best-known for its inexpensive, technicolor, quartz timepieces. And when it comes to marketing, it's still the master, almost 40 years later.

What is the importance of swatches? ›

Why are swatches important? Swatches are provided by fabric producers and retailers to their clients so that the latter can touch and feel the fabrics being offered and, by doing so, make an educated purchase decision according to what they have in mind for their next collection.

How accurate are color swatches? ›

If mixed properly, the paint color applied to a surface should remain true to the color swatch. However, there are environmental and psychological factors that play into changing what is “true” to “how something appears”.

What is the golden rule in fashion? ›

When it comes to getting dressed, many experts consult the Golden Ratio to help balance proportions between different garments. It may be tough to eyeball a 1:1.618 ratio in the mirror, but balancing upper and lower pieces according to a 2:3 or 3:5 ratio creates a naturally aesthetic outfit.

What is the rule of 4 in fashion? ›

Kelly shared her Rule of Four lesson publicly when signups were open for the May course, so some of you may have seen it. The goal is to have at least four accessories or points of interest to every outfit.

What is the 60 30 10 rule? ›

What is the 60-30-10 Rule? It's a classic decor rule that helps create a color palette for a space. It states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be the secondary color or texture and the last 10% should be an accent.

What are the 3 most attractive colors? ›

The study found statistically significant gender differences in relation to yellow, white and green-yellow. All three colors were perceived as more attractive by women than by men. Results from our study show that chromatic colors have been perceived as more attractive than achromatic, with exception for black.

What is the fashion color for 2023? ›

Digital Lavender, Luscious Red, Sundial, Tranquil Blue and Verdigris are the color names for 2023.

What is 2023 color? ›

The Color of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta, which the company describes as powerful and empowering. “Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration... [It] revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.”

What is primary colour in fashion design? ›

Red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors. Violet, orange, and green are the secondary colors. Everything else is a tertiary color — a mix of primary and secondary colors. Designs use the color wheel to choose one of five types of color schemes.

Why are colors important in fashion? ›

Simply put, no matter how beautiful the design of an outfit is, color alone can accent or spoil its beauty. We can say that color is the first thing people observe in our garments and the impact is instantaneous, and it also leaves a lasting impression.

Why are colors important in fashion design? ›

Colour can be essential when creating a contrast. Simply put, contrast is the difference between two colors. Some combinations make colors more vivid and intense, while other neutralise each other. For instance, a color-to-color contrast between colors that are not mixed with black or white can make a striking impact.

What is color psychology in fashion? ›

Colours for behaviors as well as emotions

White symbolizes purity and innocence. Black symbolises evil or unhappiness. Green stands for envy. Pink address the shades of romance and kindness. Yellow radiates warmth and energy.

What are the basics of fashion theory? ›

Fashion theorists believe that fashion is a reflection of social, economic, political, and cultural changes, but also that fashion expresses modernity and symbolizes the spirit of the times (Lehmann, 2000; Blumer 1969; Laver 1937). Fashion both reflects and expresses the specific time in history.

What color attracts the human eye most? ›

Red and orange seem to be the clear winner when it comes to eye-catching colors. These colors tend to stand out and are therefore used on many warning signs or safety equipment. Yellow is another color that comes in a close second to red and orange in popularity.

What colours do luxury brands use? ›

The gold and burnt orange colors are most frequently found in luxury brands that endear their customers with respect, security and quality. The idea of “high class” is more often associated with this color palette, as both colors are known to be rich and luxurious.

What are the 2 best colors that go together? ›

Here are some of our favorite two-color combinations.
  1. Yellow and Blue: Playful and Authoritative. ...
  2. Navy and Teal: Soothing or Striking. ...
  3. Black and Orange: Lively and Powerful. ...
  4. Maroon and Peach: Elegant and Tranquil. ...
  5. Deep Purple and Blue: Serene and Dependable. ...
  6. Navy and Orange: Entertaining yet Credible.

Why Swatch is back in fashion? ›

It adds a pop of colour, it's fun, relevant and affordable.” Ming Liu, a journalist and watch expert, also switches between her Rolex, Patek and multiple Swatches. “Swatch feels like a fun way to express one's identity, and importantly they're really accurate too,” she says.

Who is Swatch target audience? ›

Demographics suggest that the main target market of Swatch is the age group of 15-34. Taking this in to consideration, I suggest it could provide special prices to students and a discount on customisation of the watch if registered with Swatch Club Membership.

Do Swatches increase in value? ›

Over time, some watches can turn out to be very good investments. Sometimes they sell for more than the original price only a few years after purchase. But other more accessible brands also do well, such Tissot and Hamilton, which are more mainstream.

Why are color swatches so expensive? ›

Ensuring colour consistency is a serious business and Pantone have got their colour system down to a science and true art. When using Pantone, you are paying a premium for the assurance that the colour you see on the swatch in front of you is the colour that can be reproduced on your material.

How did swatch become popular? ›

Swatch was largely responsible for the revitalising the Swiss watch quartz crisis of the 70s and became a fashion icon in the 80s and 90s while the OMEGA Moonwatch is a historic and iconic watch that well, went to the moon,” said Huang.

What is the purpose of the Swatches panel? ›

The Swatches panel is where colors, tints, gradients, and patterns are stored. To open the Swatches panel choose Window > Swatches. A preset list of colors, gradients, and patterns are in the panel by default. These can be edited, and new ones can be created and exported for use in other Illustrator files.

Are color swatches free at Home Depot? ›

Are paint sample cards free at Home Depot? Yes. Color cards available in the paint aisles at Home Depot are free.

How do you know if a color swatch is a global swatch? ›

Click on the spot or global color.
  1. A global color swatch is marked with a small white triangle bottom right.
  2. A spot color has a black dot within that triangle.

What are paint swatches called? ›

In short, paint swatches are the little color paper strips you find in the paint aisle. They are separated by brand. Some are square cards with a single color hue on them; others will have multiple shades of the same color. Either way, these swatches will demonstrate the color.

What are the 6 intermediate colors? ›

A color created by mixing a primary color with the secondary color next to it; also called a tertiary color. Intermediate colors include red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet.

What are the 5 true primary colors? ›

Robert Boyle, the Irish chemist, introduced the term primary color in English in 1664 and claimed that there were five primary colors (white, black, red, yellow, and blue).

What is mean by swatches? ›

: a sample piece (as of fabric) or a collection of samples. : a characteristic specimen. : patch. 3. : a small collection.

What does swatches mean in art? ›

In painting, the word means a sample of color designed to show the actual dried result of applying certain paint(s).

What do fabric swatches do? ›

10 Ways to Upcycle Upholstery Fabric Scraps
  1. Book covers. If you have books with worn-out covers, reinforce these with fabric. ...
  2. Lampshades. ...
  3. Coasters. ...
  4. Tote bags. ...
  5. Table or mantel runner. ...
  6. Wall decor. ...
  7. Reusable hot and cold herbal compress pillow. ...
  8. Jewelry holder.
Jan 30, 2020

What is a swatch vs palette? ›

You can create multiple palettes. For example, you can save all the colors and materials for a particular project on a custom palette. You can delete palettes that you no longer need. Swatches are styles or materials created from colors, gradients, patterns, or textures that you can save to use again.

What are the different types of swatches? ›

Within the Swatches panel, there are various types of swatches: gradient, pattern, spot, global, tint, process, CMYK, RGB, and Lab.

Why is it called a swatch? ›

Swatch Ltd. The name Swatch is a contraction of "second watch", as the watches were intended as casual, disposable accessories.

What are fabric swatches called? ›

A fabric swatch or a textile sample is a piece of cloth that is designed to represent the whole piece of cloth. It is called a lab-dip for plain dyed fabrics, and for fabrics with patterns like stripes, it is called a handloom.

Are Swatches good quality? ›

Swatch has an excellent reputation for producing high-quality and long-lasting watches that are as comfortable as they are stylish. The brand is also committed to analogue timekeeping, giving their funky designs an even more retro feel.

What is another word for swatch? ›

What is another word for swatch?
batchexample
piecesample
snipstrip
testerspecimen
instanceexemplification
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