Mocha Mousse – the articulation of the color of the year in textile design
The opening of the exhibition is 4.2.2026.
FROM THE PREFACE OF THE EXHIBITION
Color, as one of the fundamental structural elements of visual communication in visual media, influences the observer's decision about the object and its surroundings. In the context of design and aesthetic design, the interaction of colors and materials plays a key role. Color is not an independent aspect of the object, but is a structural part of the environment/space. The presence and exposure of colors, their significance, dominance and mutual relationships of colors affect people emotionally, physically and psychologically. However, given the phenomenon of visual perception and the complexity of the visual system in which the human eye sees only an approximate reality, that is, a constructed "reality", the observer's perceptual experience depends on the interaction between his perceptual apparatus and the environment. Each perceived color depends on many factors – not only on the spectral content of the light that reaches the eye, but also on the spatial context, the background as well as the surrounding colors. Therefore, color depends on the characteristics of the spectral distribution of the light source and is a matter of subjective, individual perception and interpretation.
In 1999, the Pantone Institute first introduced the definition of the color of the year as a universal, globally accepted color, with a defined story that guides the perspective of individuals and that is accepted as well as other visual features. The color of the year represents the Zeitgeist and reflects the global mood and attitude reflecting the collective desire in the form of a single, recognizable tone through the relationship between color and culture. The selection process involves extensive research into various cultural influences, including art, fashion, design, as well as socioeconomic conditions. This ensures a relevant and timely representation of the global zeitgeist through color, establishing a new visual experience as a trend. For 2025, the color of the year is PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse – a warm, brown shade reminiscent of the properties of chocolate and coffee, with the aim of achieving a sense of harmonious comfort, intimacy and elegance. In the modern spirit of the time, this color suggests the need to calm down, let go, slow down, be grounded and create a pleasant space.
As part of the curriculum, students of the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, studying Textile and Fashion Design (Textile Design), process the color of the year through its application in the design of textile patterns, where the task is to design a collection of textile patterns for summer clothing. In doing so, at least three different patterns are combined in one outfit in a harmonious whole. The color of the year is the basic starting point, the guiding thread that will define the author's collections of textile patterns. Students critically think about the defined color of the year, with regard to the textual and visual content, i.e. the semantic description of the globally accepted tone. The authors use objective compositional principles to create harmonious visual units. Applied interdisciplinary methods that include the free presentation of ideas with the aim of encouraging creativity, critical thinking on a given topic, combined drawing techniques and understanding of technical specifications in the context of digital textile printing, result in the realization of author's collections of textile materials."
Marijana Tkalec and Tanja Nuša Kočevar
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE EXHIBITION:
EMA BOŠNJAK
DORA BUŽIĆ
JANA JAKŠIĆ
IVA LUKAČIĆ
GABRIELA NAMLIĆ
MENTORS AND AUTHORS OF THE EXHIBITION CONCEPT:
Assoc. Prof. Tanja Nuša Kočević, PhD (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering)
dr. sc. Marijana Tkalec, Senior Assistant (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology)
BIOGRAPHIES OF MENTORS:
Tanja Nuša Kočevar (1970, Celje) is an assistant professor in Ljubljana. She graduated in 1995 with the thesis "Fabric in Space", and completed her postgraduate studies in 2Textile Design with the use of computers in 1996 at Heriot–Watt University in Scotland, where she researched transparency and line in curtain fabrics. She received her PhD in 2000 with a dissertation on the influence of fabric construction parameters on optical color mixing. In teaching, she deals with digital 2D and 3D design in the field of textiles, clothing and graphics. Recently, she has been participating in projects related to cultural heritage and contemporary design. She also researches 3D printing on textiles and 2D and 3D animation. She has received several awards for her work, including the Valvasor Honorary Award (2019) and the Valvasor Carnation (2023) for her contribution to the field of cultural heritage.
Marijana Tkalec (1986, Čakovec) is employed as a senior assistant at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, where she graduated in 2010 at the Textile Technology study, majoring in Design and Design of Textiles and Clothing. She obtained her PhD degree in 2025 at the same institution. In her scientific research and artistic work, she studies the interaction of the topography of textile materials and color, as well as the application and characteristics of textiles in a contemporary context. She approaches research in an interdisciplinary way, given her experience in the field of textile art, knowledge and practical skills in the real sector, as well as publications and participation in scientific conferences. In teaching, she deals with digital textile design, textile design using various techniques, and the application of color in fashion and textiles. She has won several awards for her work in the field of design.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to the Scientific Research Centre for Textiles (TSRC) for co-financing the exhibition and the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering (NTF) for printing the poster.
Thanks to the company Grafko Caspar d.o.o. from Varaždin.
The presented works are the result of cooperation achieved through Erasmus mobility.
The exhibition is partially financed by the institutional project of the University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology entitled "FRONTIERS OF FASHION: Interdisciplinary Articulations of Clothing and Textiles". Fashion Borders (FABO, TTF-IIP-01), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
You can see the exhibition in the Šira Gallery during the working hours of the Gallery (Mon-Fri: 9-16 h, 18-20 h, Saturday: 11-16 h) until 19.02.2026.
