NEW YORK— As cookware companies prepare for 2017, product color and design remain top of mind. Consumers are still seeing colored cookware as a way to express themselves, make the cooking experience more fun and a way to spice up the look of their kitchens without a big investment.
“Consumers are experimenting with different looks, and incorporating their cookware vessels into their kitchen décor is a big part of it,” said Raul Corzo, president, IMUSA. “Gone are the days where consumers have to choose either all black cookware or all silver pots and pans.”
Cookware vendors recently spoke
to HOMEWORLD BUSINESS®
about what colors should make a splash in 2017.
Patrick O’Connor, president, Range Kleen, which also manages the Berndes and Moneta cookware brands, said that he feels that consumers will be looking for a back to basics look in the kitchen. White tones, he said, will continue to grow as consumers increasingly share their homemade meals on photo-forward social networks like Instagram.
“Today’s consumer wants elegant simplicity with a keen awareness of materials and authentic craftsmanship that provides that oven to table solution in a way that presents food in a delicious way both visually and in content,” he said.
Pantone named Rose Quartz and Serenity Blue as 2016 colors of the year and consumers are following suit when it comes to their cookware as well. Light pastel colors are quickly becoming go-to purchases, vendors said.
Epoca makes an effort to organize the color selection of its Bliss range by season, but, said Josh Melzer, vp/marketing and communications for the company, its new pastel range is poised for growth.
“This palette of Ecolution Bliss embraces the beauty of spring with a variety of pastels. We will continue to offer bold, new seasonal colors throughout the year to meet the evolving consumer demand and bring fun and fashion to the forefront of everyday cooking,” he said.
Along the same lines, Dieter Naessens, president, The Cookware Company, GreenPan, said that turquoise has been a best-seller for the company. Turquoise has been gaining ground in home décor and appliances for the past two years.
“Every year a new color comes into play but turquoise has been a strong market holder for us the past few years. We have no doubt that this year will be any different,” noted Naessens.
However, said Corzo of IMUSA, there are a slew of new options and combinations that are going to be popular with consumers in 2017, including mixed colors and textures.
“Housewares is seeing a trend of mixing materials and finishes, often with multiple mixed colors and textures appearing on the same piece,” he said. “The movement towards mixing has allowed us to pair brushed stainless steel handles, with light cast iron in a gold-copper color, deep metallic reds with cream speckles, and soft touch wood handles with rough stone-like textures. There is a sophisticated way to blend colors and textures, and consumers are enjoying the options of combining more than one, such as metallic, matte, polished, stone and hammered finishes.”
While color in the kitchen will continue to trend in different ways, the appeal of copper continues to grow, said Tom Wien, Gibson’s marketing and licensing director. Consumers will be looking to capture the trend at a variety of different pricepoints.
“An ongoing design trend that continues to grow is copper colored cookware. As consumers entertain more at home there is a need for cookware that carries a high-end chef look without the high-end cost,” he said.