Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, embodies indulgence and sophistication, influencing fashion and interior design with its warm, chocolatey hue. And you can add it to your wardrobe with these sustainable picks.
Pantone has unveiled its 2025 Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse, a warm, chocolatey brown that exudes indulgence and sophistication. This selection reflects a cultural gravitation toward harmony, nature, and personal comfort, emphasizing life’s simple pleasures.
“Underpinned by our desire for every day pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence” Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute, said in a statement. “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe. Infused with subtle elegance and earthy refinement, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse presents a discrete and tasteful touch of glamour. A flavorful brown shade, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse envelopes us with its sensorial warmth.”
Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, emphasizes the importance of the color’s name in conveying a sense of lightness and vaporous feeling, contrasting with the richer tone of 2024’s Peach Fuzz. “The everlasting search for harmony filters through into every aspect of our lives including our relationships, the work we do, our social connections and the natural environment that surrounds us. Harmony brings feelings of contentment, inspiring a positive state of inner peace, calm, and balance as well as being tuned in with the world around us. Harmony embraces a culture of connection and unity as well as the synthesis of our mental, spiritual and physical well-being,” Pressman said. “With that in mind, for Pantone Color of the Year 2025 we look to a color that progresses our embrace of the feeling of our PANTONE Color of the Year, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz into another dimension, extending further into our desire for comfort, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others.”
Mocha Mousse’s versatility allows it to serve as a nude on darker skin tones and to transform dramatically when paired with colors like powder blue and pink. In interior design, Mocha Mousse adds subtle luxury, providing a strong contrast to bright whites and enhancing textures like marble. It maintains a natural, earthy connection, harmonizing well with lighter wood tones.
Add the color of the year to your wardrobe and do it sustainably with these dark brown selections from designers and labels like Stella McCartney, Ganni, and Christy Dawn.
Stella McCartney Falabella Fold-Over Enamel Tote Bag
The Stella McCartney Falabella Fold-Over tote is the perfect mocha mousse take-everywhere bag. It elevates everyday dressing with its fusion of eco-conscious craftsmanship and functional design. Made from the brand’s signature cruelty-free Shaggy Deer fabric, the tote features an innovative Airlite coating that not only provides a semi-gloss grain finish but also actively purifies the air by sequestering nitrogen dioxide.
This vegan bag is adorned with the iconic diamond-cut chain, crafted from recycled brass and recyclable aluminum, and detailed with waxed GOTS-certified organic cotton lacing. Inside, a recycled polyester monogram lining complements a spacious main compartment, large enough for a laptop and daily essentials, alongside a slip pocket for smaller items. Designed in a rich mahogany hue, the tote comes with both top handles and a shoulder strap for versatile wear. Finished with a magnetic snap fastening and an engraved logo medallion charm, this handcrafted Italian piece embodies Stella McCartney’s commitment to cruelty-free, sustainable fashion.
Ganni x Barbour Waxed Duffle Coat
The Ganni x Barbour Waxed Duffle Coat brings together the rich heritage of British countryside style and the playful energy of Copenhagen for a bold and distinctive look. Now in its third season, this collaboration continues to celebrate the craftsmanship of both brands, reimagining outerwear with a fresh perspective. Designed in a warm brown tone — perfect for the Pantone color of the year look — with contrasting patchwork details, the coat incorporates Barbour’s archival grey Winter Tartan at the body and elbow patches, adding a touch of timeless charm to its contemporary silhouette.
Crafted from Barbour’s iconic certified organic waxed cotton and lined with a recycled polyamide blend, the coat is as sustainable as it is stylish. Its standout oversized collar, finished in Barbour’s signature corduroy, frames the design, while functional details like large front patch pockets and a full zip closure with a snap-button placket ensure practicality for colder seasons. A co-branded silicone badge at the chest completes the piece, underscoring the unique partnership between these two fashion powerhouses. Perfect for chilly days, this coat is a statement of style and sustainability.
Everlane Box Cut Tee
Everlane’s Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee has reached iconic status, with over one million sold and counting — a testament to its effortless style and universal appeal. Featuring a classic crew neck, easy short sleeves, and a perfectly relaxed fit, it strikes the ideal balance between casual and polished. The slightly cropped length adds a modern touch, making it versatile enough to pair with high-waisted jeans, skirts, or your favorite lounge pants.
What truly sets this tee apart is its fabric. Made from 100 percent organic cotton, it feels exceptionally soft and breathable, making it as comfortable to wear as it is kind to the planet. Everlane’s commitment to sustainability shines through in this piece, part of its larger mission to create high-quality basics with transparency and care. The tee’s thoughtful construction and durable fabric ensure it remains a staple in your wardrobe for years, standing up to countless washes while maintaining its shape and softness.
With its understated design and exceptional comfort, the Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee isn’t just a shirt — it’s a lifestyle piece. And, like fries, you’ll find one simply isn’t enough. Once you’ve experienced its versatility and charm, you’ll want one in every color. This tee is proof that sometimes, the simplest designs make the biggest impact.
Christy Dawn Leona Trench
The Leona Trench by Christy Dawn redefines classic sophistication with a modern, comfortable twist, making it an essential layering piece for any wardrobe. Designed in a versatile coffee brown hue, this oversized swing trench coat effortlessly bridges timeless elegance and relaxed ease. Its mid-calf length and flowing silhouette make it an ideal complement to Christy Dawn’s signature dresses, adding a polished touch to any outfit.
Crafted from 100 percent organic cotton twill, The Leona Trench reflects Christy Dawn’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethical fashion. The fabric is not only durable and breathable but also sourced with care, honoring the brand’s dedication to working in harmony with nature. Ethically made in India, each piece represents a blend of meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful design, embodying the spirit of slow fashion that Christy Dawn champions.
Details like a covered button placket and belt accents at the cuffs add understated refinement, while the oversized fit ensures comfort and versatility for layering across seasons. Whether draped over a flowy midi dress for an elegant daytime look or paired with denim for a casual outing, The Leona Trench’s timeless design guarantees it will remain a wardrobe staple for years to come. It’s a coat that speaks to Christy Dawn’s ethos — celebrating the beauty of sustainable fashion while delivering style that feels both effortless and elevated.
Prev Alicia Chestnut Boot
Prev merges edgy aesthetics with sustainable innovation, offering a refined balance of style and practicality in the Alicia boot. Featuring a long vintage toe, slim straps, and elegant metal buckles, the shoes highlight sharp, angular lines complemented by a distinctive rubber sole. The angular heel design, paired with a custom YKK metal zipper, delivers a bold architectural silhouette. Inside, a removable cushioned insole and warm lining ensure comfort for extended wear, making these shoes as functional as they are striking.
Crafted with cutting-edge materials, the upper is made from apple leather — a bio-based, vegan alternative to traditional animal leather. This material begins its journey in northern Italy’s Bolzano region, where apple pulp and peel leftover from the juice and compote industry are pulverized and repurposed. After processing, the material is sent to Florence, where cotton-backed weaving transforms it into a durable yet soft leather alternative. Not only does this process significantly reduce carbon and water footprints compared to synthetic leather, but it also avoids toxic chemicals, offering a hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly solution.
Apple leather’s sustainability story goes even further. By repurposing apple pulp, which is often classified as waste and destined for landfills or incineration, Prev transforms a natural byproduct into a luxurious, renewable material. This innovative approach minimizes environmental impact and supports circular design principles.
With a 9 cm angular heel and warm-lined interior, this shoe is as versatile as it is visually compelling. Perfect for both long walks and statement-making style, it reflects Prev’s dedication to creating revolutionary, eco-conscious products that push the boundaries of modern fashion.
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