Pantone has spoken—2025’s Colour of the Year is PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warm, grounding brown designed to bring a sense of comfort and stability. In a world of uncertainty, it makes sense that Pantone would choose something soothing, something that feels like a deep breath in colour form.
But when we look at what’s actually happening in fashion and interiors, this choice feels…unexpected.
A Year of Colour, Not Caution
Fashion runways have been bursting with energy. Chanel, for example, moved away from classic black, embracing vivid pastels and shimmering sequins. We’ve seen electric blues, fiery oranges, and bold reds dominating collections, proving that 2025 is shaping up to be anything but muted. There’s a real sense of playfulness and optimism in the air—designers are embracing risk, and it’s paying off.
Interiors are reflecting the same shift. Our own 2025 Interior Design Trends report highlighted an explosion of bold, expressive hues. Think deep reds, electric blues, rich yellows. Homes are no longer playing it safe—personal expression is taking centre stage, with colour being used to tell stories, evoke emotion, and create joy.
The Case for Mocha Mousse
So where does Mocha Mousse fit into all of this? Pantone’s reasoning is clear: in an era of uncertainty, people crave stability. Brown is dependable. It’s earthy, timeless, and reassuring. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, described Mocha Mousse as a colour that reflects the need for harmony, offering a sense of calm amidst the chaos.

And we get it—there’s something comforting about a rich, grounding neutral. Brown has been making a quiet comeback in fashion and interiors, often used to balance out brighter hues. It’s a colour that plays well with others, offering warmth without overpowering.
Does It Capture the Spirit of 2025?
But when we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, Mocha Mousse still feels at odds with the prevailing mood. There’s a real energy to 2025—a hunger for expression, for boldness, for pushing boundaries. It’s a year that seems to demand vibrancy, not restraint.
That’s not to say Mocha Mousse won’t have its place. Used right, it can be a beautiful grounding element, a way to soften and warm up the high-impact colours we’re seeing everywhere else. But as a defining shade of the year? We can’t help but feel that the true colours of 2025 are something much bolder.
What do you think? Will Mocha Mousse define the year, or will 2025’s real colour story be something far more vibrant?