ICI Dulux Paints' ColourFutures highlight interesting new trends in home dcor

Dubai, UAE, October 12, 2006: Pink has been unanimously voted as the colour for 2007, according to an international panel of designers of Dulux Paints' ColourFutures.

After being synonymous with romance, cotton candy, bubble gum and breast cancer awareness, pink has now emerged as the favourite shade for 2007 for dcor specialists and fashion designers.

Following in-depth research and palette tests, an international panel of colour consultants at ICI Paints has unanimously chosen pink as the "Colour of the Year 2007" as part of its ColourFutures, an ongoing worldwide colour trend research, forecasting and development.

Releasing the ColourFutures trends in the UAE, Philip Mathew, General Manager, Al Gurg Leigh Paints (AGLP), points out: "Leading designers are now using pink for hotel, restaurant and interior projects. It is elegant, retro and appeals to all people. Our research shows that pink is a highly desired colour and is being appreciated for its remarkable versatility with different palettes."

In their quest to find the colour of the year, the ColourFutures team draws on a variety of sources - from research groups, colour marketing and trade and retail exhibitions to design influences from the worlds of fashion, technology, architecture, music, nature and popular culture. This results in a contemporary colour palette which is driven by society's changing moods and interests.

Pink, associated with everything avant-garde, innovative, versatile, creative and cultured, will replace this year's favourite, kiwi green. The designers felt that pink was increasingly being used in innovative ways to create the most dramatic and adventurous of modern interiors.

ColourFutures features a palette of 100 colours divided into eight separate families, notably greens, violets, cool neutrals (such as black, grey and charcoal), blues, warm neutrals (such as khaki, brown, or beige), oranges, reds and yellows.

Explaining the new developments for 2007, Amna Saqib, Colour Specialist at the Dulux Decorator Centre in Dubai, said that the major change this year was that colours are less contrasting and more mid-toned overall - some of the paler tones have moved a little deeper.

"This particular shade has a calming effect on people," says Saqib. "While it has had different connotations over the years, this colour has now evolved its own distinctive identity and character. We are confident of seeing its increased and creative use in home dcor over the next few months."

Al Gurg Leigh's Paints manufactures protective coatings under licence from Leigh's Paints, UK. High-quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK.  AGLP manufactures and distributes the full range of paints under the Dulux, Leigh's, and Firetex brands.

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Notes to the Editor:
Al Gurg Leigh's Paints (AGLP) was established in Sharjah in 1988 to manufacture a wide range of industrial and decorative coatings. The protective coatings for the industrial, marine and petrochemical industry, including coatings for fire protection, are manufactured under licence from Leighs Paints, UK. High quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK.

Al Gurg Leigh's Paints operates a regional technical laboratory equipped with the latest R&D and analysis equipment. Al Gurg Leigh's Paints is a member of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group of Companies. 

The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group was founded by H.E Easa Saleh Al Gurg CBE in 1960. Today the group is associated with over 20 brands such as British American Tobacco, Unilever, Dunlop, Siemens, United Colors of Benetton, and Burmah Castrol.

For more information, please contact:
Zahabia Motiwala/ Lina Zain Aldin
Polaris Public Relations
Dubai,
UAE
Tel: (04) 3348522
Fax: (04) 3341326
E.mail: z.motiwala@polaris-me.com

© Press Release 2006