Meet Mocha Mousse: Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year

By ShirtSpace | Jan 13, 2025 |  Updated Jan 17, 2025

Each year, since 2000, the world eagerly awaits Pantone’s announcement of the Color of the Year, setting the tone for design trends across industries. Other businesses make other Color of the Year announcements, but for a quarter of a century, Pantone’s remains the most famous and influential. Color Confidence fittingly calls Pantone “the universal language of colour”, which perfectly sums up the brand’s influence and presence in the design space.

For 2025, the star of the show is Mocha Mousse, a rich and earthy shade that exudes warmth, sophistication, and versatility. Whether you’re in fashion, interior design, or marketing and branding, this color promises to bring a grounding yet luxurious vibe to your custom-made creations.

Color of the Year Craze: Mocha Mousse

Image credit: Jaunmonino from Getty Images Signature

Pantone’s Mocha Mousse, and other similar neutral shades, will be everywhere in 2025. Colors like sand, tan and chocolate brown have risen in popularity over the recent years, and for good reason. These colors are sophisticated and easy on the eyes. Let’s dive into what makes Mocha Mousse the perfect choice for 2025 and why Pantone colors matter for apparel decorators like you.

Trend Casting: Why Mocha Mousse for Color of the Year 2025?

Pantone’s choice of Mocha Mousse reflects a collective desire for comfort, connection and grounding in a fast-paced, digital world. This color draws inspiration from natural elements, offering a sense of stability and authenticity. Its neutral yet warm tone bridges the gap between minimalism and cozy sophistication, making it a versatile choice for a variety of applications and personal tastes.

Colors of the year are chosen not just for their aesthetic appeal but also for their cultural relevance. In 2025, Mocha Mousse speaks to themes of sustainability, earthy elegance, and a renewed appreciation for timeless tones.

Why is Pantone’s Color of the Year Important for Apparel?

For those in the apparel industry, the Pantone Color of the Year isn’t just a design trend – it’s a marketing opportunity and cultural moment. Spanning several creative industries, these colors often dominate retail displays, social media campaigns, and runway collections, driving customer interest and sales. Incorporating colors for 2025 like Mocha Mousse, into your offerings ensures your apparel stays ahead of the curve.

Neutral tones like Mocha Mousse are also highly adaptable, making them ideal for screen printing, embroidery, and other apparel decorating methods. Whether your audience loves bold graphics or understated elegance, such as with monochromatic lettering, this shade offers a versatile canvas for creative projects.

What Contexts Mocha Mousse Would Be Ideal For

Mocha Mousse is a chameleon of color, thriving in casual and formal settings. Here are some ideas for where this tone can shine:

• Casual Wear: Hoodies, t-shirts, and sweatpants in Mocha Mousse-like colors offer a trendy yet relaxed vibe perfect for everyday fashion.
• Apparel Extras: Hats, bags and accessories to take your outfit to the next level.
• Workwear: This neutral shade conveys professionalism and approachability, making it ideal for uniforms and corporate apparel.
• Seasonal Collections: From autumn’s earthy palettes to spring’s soft and grounded tones, Mocha Mousse transitions seamlessly across seasons. 
• Event Wear: Bridesmaid dresses, party outfits, or team uniforms get an elevated touch with this rich, neutral hue.
• Natural Brands & Organizations: With such an earthy tone, we can see this being the perfect shade for environmental groups, outdoors-inspired custom apparel lines, and anything focusing on eco-friendly practices.
   

Top Brands For That Mocha Mousse Look

When it comes to blank apparel, these brands have you covered with shades that capture the essence of Mocha Mousse:

Comfort Colors’ “Espresso”

Known for ultra-soft, pigment-dyed fabrics, Comfort Colors’ Espresso shade offers a warm, vintage-inspired take on Mocha Mousse. Perfect for casual and loungewear pieces.

Shirts pictured: Comfort Colors C1717 in Espresso, 6030CC in Island Green and C9018 in Bright Salmon.
 

STYLES AVAILABLE IN COMFORT COLORS’ “ESPRESSO”

• C1717 Adult Heavyweight T-Shirt
• 6030CC Adult Heavyweight RS Pocket T-Shirt
• C6014 Adult Heavyweight RS Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
• 1466CC Unisex Lightweight Cotton Crewneck Sweatshirt
• 1469CC Unisex Lightweight Cotton Sweat pant
   

Bella+Canvas’ “Vintage Brown” and “Tan”

Bella+Canvas offers modern, fashion-forward options in Tan and Vintage Brown. Tan is a softer and lighter version of Mocha Mousse, while vintage brown is slightly darker and less warm.

Left image: Bella+Canvas 3719 pullover hoodie and 3739 full-zip hoodie, both in Tan
Right image: Bella+Canvas 3001C in Vintage Brown.
 

STYLES AVAILABLE IN BELLA+CANVAS’ “TAN”:

• 3001CVC Unisex Heather CVC T-Shirt “heather tan”
• 3001C Unisex Jersey T-Shirt
• 3719 Unisex Sponge Fleece Pullover Hoodie
• 3729 Unisex Sponge Fleece Pullover DTM Hoodie
• 3739 Unisex Sponge Fleece Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt
• 3945 Unisex Drop Shoulder Fleece
• 3727 Unisex Jogger Sweatpant
• BC3787 Women's Cutoff Sweatshort
• 8512 Ladies' Cropped Long Sleeve Hooded T-Shirt “tan triblend”
• 3001Y Youth Jersey T-Shirt

STYLES AVAILABLE IN BELLA+CANVAS’ “VINTAGE BROWN”:

• 3010C Unisex 6oz Heavyweight T-Shirt
• 3501 Unisex Jersey Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
• 6110 Ladies' 6oz Heavyweight T-Shirt
• B6400 Ladies' Relaxed Jersey Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
• 3001C Unisex Jersey T-Shirt
• 4711 Unisex 10oz Crewneck Sweatshirt
• 4719 Unisex 10oz Hooded Pullover
• 3719 Unisex Sponge Fleece Pullover Hoodie
• 3739 Unisex Sponge Fleece Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt
• 3945 Unisex Drop Shoulder Fleece
   

LAT’s “Coyote Brown” and “Vintage Coyote Brown”

For a trendy and earthy twist, LAT’s Coyote Browns delivers. An ideal casual wear color, this shade captures the grounded essence of Mocha Mousse minus a bit of the warmth.

Crewneck pictured: LAT 6925 Unisex Elevated Fleece Sweatshirt in Coyote Brown.
 

STYLES AVAILABLE IN LAT’S “COYOTE BROWN”:

• LAT 6901 Unisex Fine Jersey T-Shirt “vintage coyote brown”
• LAT 6904 Unisex Bamboo T-Shirt
• LAT 6918 Men's Fine Jersey Long-Sleeve
• LAT 3516 Ladies' Fine Jersey T-Shirt
• LAT 3520 Ladies' Oversized Relaxed T-Shirt
• LAT 6101 Youth Fine Jersey T-Shirt “vintage coyote brown”
• LAT L3502 Ladies' Relaxed Vintage Wash T-Shirt ”wash coyote brown”
• LAT 6925 Unisex Elevated Fleece Sweatshirt
• LAT 6926 Adult Pullover Fleece Hoodie
• LAT 6789 The Statement Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt ”coyote brown/black”
   

*Please note that if you love the warm-pinkish tone of Mocha Mousse, and want to lean into that warmth, Mauve is an awesome muddy rose color that we think you will love!
 

How Will You Use Mocha Mousse in Your Apparel Decorating?

Now that you know why Mocha Mousse is set to dominate colors for 2025, it’s time to think about how you’ll incorporate it into your designs. Will you pair it with bold, contrasting prints? Get your screen printing screens, direct-to-garment (DTG) printer or heat press ready! You could also use it as a neutral backdrop for embroidered designs. Or think outside the box and bleach a Mocha Mousse piece of clothing for a unique and patterned appearance.

Whatever your approach, embracing Pantone’s Colors of the Year ensures your apparel stands out in the ever-evolving fashion landscape. Stock up on light brown Mocha Mousse-inspired hues from your favorite brands and let your creativity flow. We can’t wait to see what you create! Tell us your favorite Mocha-inspired clothing style or shade in the comments!
 

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