Can you keep a hue to yourself? People and businesses try. Specific colors can even be trademarked. One notable example is the particular red on the soles of Christian Louboutin’s famous and expensive shoes. And why the trademark? Because like every valuable property, color is subject to theft.
Every year Pantone picks a “Color of the Year”--2020’s is Classic Blue. But what if there was a color of the century? Vibrant and coveted, complete with a carefully guarded production process? That’s the case for two very different, very gorgeous primary colors that were truly hot commodities: cochineal red and indigo blue.
Join us for a look at the history of these two extraordinary shades, how they were protected as trade secrets, and how those secrets were eventually stolen as the result of economic espionage. Our speaker is Amy Butler Greenfield author of A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire.
Please join us for this colorful conversation, and then you’ll be able to ask questions via our online platform.
**While this is a free program, please consider donating to SPY to help support these programs. Between now and the end of 2020, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by a generous anonymous donor.