Pantone Color of the Year 2002
The Pantone Color of the Year 2002 is True Red (19-1664). Its HEX approximation is #BF1932. A confident, undiluted red that carried the weight of a post-9/11 year — bold, direct, unapologetic.
About True Red
A confident, undiluted red that carried the weight of a post-9/11 year — bold, direct, unapologetic.
Pantone announced True Red as its Color of the Year 2002 in December 2001, following the program's annual cadence. The announcement placed the shade within the broader cultural conversation of the year — from fashion and interiors to graphics and packaging — and was accompanied by coordinated product releases from partner brands who had pre-adopted the color. Like every Pantone Color of the Year, True Red is a TCX reference (19-1664) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, True Red translates to a screen HEX of #BF1932 and a CMYK print approximation of 0/87/74/25. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references True Red, the safest approach is to specify the 19-1664 TCX reference directly to your printer or textile supplier, and to verify with a printed proof on the target stock before committing to production.
Closest Solid Coated match
If you need to reproduce True Red with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 200 C (#BA0C2F), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 1.63. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2002?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2002 is True Red (19-1664). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2002. Its HEX approximation is #BF1932.
What is the HEX code for True Red?
True Red is a Pantone TCX reference (19-1664), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #BF1932 in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 191, 25, 50 and CMYK print approximation 0/87/74/25. These values are approximations and should not be treated as authoritative — the Pantone code is the actual specification.
What Pantone Solid Coated code is closest to True Red?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to True Red (19-1664) is 200 C at #BA0C2F, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 1.63. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use True Red in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #BF1932 — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 19-1664 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (200 C). For textile and fashion applications, the TCX code itself is the standard — no conversion is necessary if your manufacturer works with Pantone textile references.