Colors Unknown

Blue, green, red, yellow, black… there is an endless list of colors, there are just so many! Most of us don’t pay attention to the lighter tones or deeper shades of a particular color; a red is just a red to us. From the color of the sky to the color of an eye, each color varies. There are colors that we may have seen countless times, but would be unaware of their actual names, placing them in generalized category. Here are some colors that most of us must have seen, but wouldn’t know the exact name.

Malachite

The first one is Malachite, a descendent of green. This vibrant version of green is derived from the carbonate mineral called Malachite or copper carbonate. The swirling patterns are associated with the semiprecious stone and the deeper shade of green gives a rich look. During the olden times the mineral was extensively used for green paints as it often varied in color. This hue is seen being painted throughout history, the Malachite room in Hermitage is one such instance. 

Monique Lhuillier's Malachite

It is widely used in décor, jewelry and even as an accessory along with designer apparel. At the Fall 2013 show of designer Monique Lhuillier, an impressive Malachite theme was employed with stunning gowns in rich Malachite hue on display.

Rose Madder                                         Madder Carmine

Rose Madder is yet another hue that is perceived as red. It is made from a pigment extracted from the common madder plant called as Rubia Tinctorum. Similarly, there is Madder Carmine which is commonly known as burgundy and sometime oxblood. Carmine is a term for deep reds that are slightly purplish, while still being close to red. The 2013 New York Fashion Week saw this shade turn up quite a lot.

Madder Carmine

Belonging to the blue and purple family, Periwinkle is another color that many are not aware of. Periwinkle is the name of a plant; it is linked to the cool blue flower of the vine-like evergreen. 

Periwinkle

The plant’s Latin name is Pervincire which means ‘to entwine’. Lavender blue is another name for it, or even pastel blue. For its 2012 Spring-Summer collection, Chanel’s Haute Couture displayed some of the best Periwinkles ever seen. 

Chanel’s Periwinkle

The color, Chartreuse is the point where the blue and yellow intersect. It has a rather interesting history attached to it. 

chartreuse yellow                                      green chartreuse

The color, Chartreuse is a lovely mixture of blue and yellow. It has a rather interesting history attached to it. The green hue resembled French liqueurs called green chartreuse, which was introduced in 1764, likewise chartreuse yellow is a yellow color mixed with a hint of green which resembled the yellow chartreuse liqueurs introduced in 1838. This color made news in Spring-Summer fashion shows a few years back. 

Cerise,  Xanadu, Amaranth, Fulvous, Eburnean, Smaragdine and Claret and  are just a few more names that go unnoticed. So explore the different hues, tones, shades, and tints and create something unique and vibrantly colorful!