Hans Doddema

Recently, Pantone announced that PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa is the color of 2009. “In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow,” they say. “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.” Do you agree?

Like you, I’m usually pretty suspicious about such blah blah and flowery language, even more so in press releases. But last year they predicted that 2008 would be the year of PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris. Now, I believe that color blue closely resembles Obama’s blue, doesn’t it? Interesting…

Batik, a wax-resist dyeing technique on textile, is a traditional art form from Indonesia. It’s currently enjoying some sort of retro revival among Indonesia’s stylish urbanites. I regret that I never attended one of those batik workshops when I was still living in Yogyakarta and learn more about the techniques to create such beautiful patterns. But hey, see what one can create on a rainy day in Dublin with Adobe Illustrator and a quick look in the wardrobe:

Above pattern is loosely based on this original: