Pantone Color of the Year 2009
The Pantone Color of the Year 2009 is Mimosa (14-0848). Its HEX approximation is #F0C05A. A warm, optimistic yellow that Pantone framed as a symbol of hope and enlightenment during the global financial crisis.
About Mimosa
A warm, optimistic yellow that Pantone framed as a symbol of hope and enlightenment during the global financial crisis.
Pantone announced Mimosa as its Color of the Year 2009 in December 2008, 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, Mimosa is a TCX reference (14-0848) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Mimosa translates to a screen HEX of #F0C05A and a CMYK print approximation of 0/20/62/6. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Mimosa, the safest approach is to specify the 14-0848 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 Mimosa with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 2006 C (#EBBC4E), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 1.61. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2009?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2009 is Mimosa (14-0848). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2009. Its HEX approximation is #F0C05A.
What is the HEX code for Mimosa?
Mimosa is a Pantone TCX reference (14-0848), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #F0C05A in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 240, 192, 90 and CMYK print approximation 0/20/62/6. 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 Mimosa?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Mimosa (14-0848) is 2006 C at #EBBC4E, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 1.61. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Mimosa in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #F0C05A — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 14-0848 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (2006 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.