Earlier this month, global coatings company PPG unveiled its 2025 Color of the Year. The chosen shade is part of the company’s 2025 “Kinetic” global color theme, which includes four distinct color palettes: Extra Celestial, Bio-Fuse, Artificial, and Earth and Archive.
Purple Basil (PPG1046-7), also known as Amethyst Shadow and Acai Berry in some European markets, the color is described as a “refreshingly bold yet soothing dusty violet hue that represents adaptability in times of change.”
“As consumers embrace an unprecedented period of newness, movement is a distinct global theme shaping design trends in numerous industries,” said Vanessa Peterson, PPG Global Color Styling Lead, Consumer Products, Industrial Coatings. “The Kinetic color theme reflects the need for self-reliance in a fast-paced world. It also highlights the interplay between nature and science that is driving innovation, and the influence of new tools like artificial intelligence that are fostering boundless creativity.”
Purple Basil was reportedly selected through the collaboration of dozens of PPG color stylists. The company’s color forecasting process considers the social, cultural and political dynamics that influence trends. Additionally, the color styling team evaluates these dynamics globally to create a collection that resonates with diverse audiences.
According to PPG, Purple Basil is a sophisticated, elegant color that works well in both traditional designs and edgier applications. As a purple, it’s considered warm enough to be inviting but cool enough to create “an air of mystery.” The blue and red within the color also aim to impart a kinetic energy to complement the 40 paired hues in PPG’s 2025 color palettes.
“It’s a transformative time with endless new possibilities we haven’t even imagined, driven by new tools that are bolstering human creativity,” Peterson said. “Consumers are embracing this time of change and movement, and we’re seeing color trends reflect the need for dynamic colors, moving past the soft, more banal, safe color choices in favor of now rich jewel tones, deeper earthen pastels and ancestral-inspired midtones.”
In industrial design applications, Purple Basil and the colors from the Kinetic global color theme palettes speak to consumer needs for innovation, adaptability and a sense of movement, PPG explains. The colors also provide a “fresh and dynamic aesthetic, whether it's in consumer products, architectural applications like windows and doors, office furniture, or automotive applications.
“Purple Basil is a mid-tone color with a neutral undertone that makes it rich, multidimensional and comforting. It’s a warmer statement color that is still slightly desaturated, making it a nuanced neutral,” said Peterson.
