Overview
- Pantone selected Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), a soft off-white, for 2026 and framed it as a cue for serenity, focus and creative renewal.
- Executives Leatrice Eiseman and Laurie Pressman said the choice tracks design and cultural trends, and Pressman stated that skin tones did not factor into the decision.
- Social media users and some designers criticized the pick as tone-deaf or suggestive of whitewashing, while right-leaning outlets dismissed the backlash as a woke overreaction.
- Fashion and lifestyle coverage predicted broad use in wardrobes and interiors, presenting the hue as a versatile base for styling and home staging.
- Pantone listed partners preparing Cloud Dancer products, including Motorola, Play-Doh, Post-it, Joybird, Command, Pura and Mandarin Oriental.