In December, Pantone Color Institute announced its 2016 color trend report and named the 2016 colors of the year. Usually, each year only sees one pick for the title, but this year was an exception with two colors announced.

The trend forecast is determined each year by a panel of color experts at the Pantone Color Institute in New Jersey. The institute considers itself to be the global color authority and employs experts to observe the trends from fashion designers, street styles, interior design and many more sources throughout the world to determine the trends for the upcoming seasons.

This year, Pantone chose two colors instead of the usual single shade. Last year, they chose the wine-colored marsala, a reddish-brown found throughout the fashion and design world in 2015. The Institute said that the choice of the two colors — rose quartz, a dusty pink, and serenity, a sky blue — is reflective of a departure from gender-based color associations in the fashion and design world.

They say the two colors, typically associated with particular genders, will be mixed in both menswear and womenswear. The combination of the colors was seen in menswear and womenswear collections from designers like Chanel, Fendi, Roberto Cavalli and Valentino.

The rest of the color forecast for spring 2016 is called “A Transportive and Transformative Canvas.” Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eisman said, “Colors this season transport us to a happier, sunnier place where we feel free to express a wittier version of our real selves.” The palette is said to reflect a desire for calmness in an industrial and technology-filled world.

The colors were largely inspired by shades found in nature, from earthy neutrals to colorful florals and plant shades. While many of the shades take on a more subdued, pastel tone, there are more energetic shades like the vibrant snorkel blue and luminous buttercup. The colorful collection is the ultimate, refreshing spring palette that is sure to have a shade for everyone.

Photo Credit: Pantone.com

Pantone, a color consulting agency in New Jersey, reigns supreme in the world of color. Each year, the company’s committee of color experts announces its prediction of color of the year. In December, the reddish-brown color dubbed Marsala was selected as 2015’s color of the year. We’ve seen the color on the runway and, true to prediction, it has found its way into the color palettes of fashionistas across the world. This has left us wondering, how exactly do they choose what shade to honor with the title?

According to color expert Leatrice Eiseman, the committee noticed Marsala making appearances in fashion collections in the fall, though not heavily. While the committee travels to fashion capitals of the world — London, Paris, Milan and New York included — they observe street fashion, automobiles, films and art. They take notes and photos while observing a large picture of the world, so they can determine the colors prevalent throughout every facet of society.

Here’s a look at the past Pantone colors of the year.

Marsala has also been included in the Fall 2015 color predictions, also made by Pantone color experts. The palette for the fall is titled “An Evolving Color Landscape.” It includes earthy tones and bold and natural colors to reflect the landscape. These colors were determined by the most prevalent runway colors from various designers during New York Fashion Week in February.

For more information about the fall color palette predictions, visit the Pantone website.