Crystals and minerals come to the fore in Plascon’s new Spring 2022 palette. Labelled Mineral, the palette looks at colours derived from naturally occurring stones such as purple amethyst and reddish-brown jasper.
Long known for their vibrational quality and purported healing properties, crystals are the result of chemical reactions happening deep within the earth. So this palette is in fact very grounded, even though two of its hero colours are soft, ethereal lilacs and smoky lavenders.
But why these colours, and why now? Especially when lilac has long been rejected as a decorating disaster. The reasons have much to do with the zeitgeist.
In the post-pandemic era, we have entered into a new relationship with the earth, driven by a desire to connect with self, others and nature. We also have a relatively new and heightened awareness of health and wellness.
Amethyst is a quartz crystal that occurs in various shades of violet and purple from the deepest hue to the lightest blush. Yoga teaches us that these colours are associated with both the 3rd eye and crown chakras of the human body and they denote spiritual awareness and enlightenment.
“Said to be the bridge that connects the concrete with the divine – the meaning of Amethyst has long been synonymous with spirituality,” writes Tinyritual.co. “Tracing the lineage of this luminous stone, ancient civilizations have been celebrating the amethyst crystal since 25,000 BC. From the Greeks to the Romans and even the Egyptians, everyone was drawn to the deep healing powers the amethyst stone emanated.”
Today, we are experiencing the same need for healing after a time of collective trauma. The other reason we are craving soft purples now, has to do with society’s greater awareness of gender sensitivity and fluidity.
Which is why Plascon invites you to welcome the Spring with a mindful mood. You can introduce a contemporary mineral note into your home with this season’s quartz-inspired purples: the mysterious Plascon Smoky Butterfly Bush (P2-D1-3) and the uplifting Plascon Crescent Moon (P5-D2-3). To complete the look, an accent of Plascon Ginger Biscuit (O1-C1-1) delivers a balancing heat.
If you are looking for something much quieter, Plascon has also refreshed the classic black-and-white combo. For a monochromatic look that isn’t quite as contrasty and strident as pure black set against with brilliant white, Plascon has paired off-black with off-white in the Mineral palette. Evoking traditional textile designs in natural fibres and materials, there’s the softened and browned black of Plascon Ewa (72), which is the perfect partner to the warm grey neutral Plascon Ravine (62). Like their crystalline counterparts Plascon Ewa (72) and Plascon Ravine (62) are very much of the earth.
Those needing assistance in choosing colours or which colours to use where, can reach out to Plascon’s free colour advice team via email: ColourAdvice@kansaiplascon.co.za. For more information about what paint to use, visit www.plascon.com.