Saffron

Holi Red comes from India's most spectacular color festival. Every spring, Indians throw colored powder celebrating good's victory over evil and winter's end. The festival originates from Hindu mythology—demon Hiranyakashipu tried to burn his devout son Prahlad, who survived through Vishnu's protection. On Holi, caste, gender, and age barriers dissolve as everyone colors each other.

Krishna Blue comes from the skin color of the Hindu deity Krishna. "Krishna" in Sanskrit means "black" or "deep blue." Indian philosophy holds that blue represents infinity—the sky and ocean are blue, and all infinite things are blue. Krishna's blue skin symbolizes his transcendent, infinite nature. This is also the signature color of Jodhpur, India's "Blue City."

Turmeric is one of the most important colors in Indian daily life. In Hindu rituals, turmeric powder is purifying and auspicious—before weddings, bride and groom receive a turmeric paste ceremony (Haldi). Indian women's forehead bindis were traditionally turmeric-based. Turmeric-dyed saris glow warm gold in sunlight, a South Indian classic.

Yamabuki Gold comes from the golden yellow kerria flower. A famous Edo period story tells of a samurai who visited a merchant's daughter to borrow money. She replied "yamabuki..." which he interpreted as the flower, but she meant "one sho" (a unit, homophone with yamabuki)—a pun still in Japanese textbooks today.

Since 1910 National Geographic has used a yellow border inspired by the golden tones of its illustrations. The yellow frame acts as a window into rainforests, deep seas, and distant civilizations—a visual promise of exploration and discovery.

New York Taxi Yellow is part of the city's visual memory. In 1907 businessman John Hertz chose yellow based on a University of Chicago study showing it was most visible from afar. It became Manhattan's moving landscape and a symbol of urban hustle.