Experiential agency, Heaps + Stacks, has announced the launch of its latest trend report, The Colour Index.
As specialists in creating brand experiences, they developed the report to highlight the importance and relevance of colour in spatial storytelling and consumer engagement.
The Colour Index provides an essential roadmap for fashion and beauty brands, bridging the gap between seasonal runway trends and physical brand activations.
By analysing how high-fashion palettes translate into immersive environments, the report identifies six key shades set to define the industry throughout the rest of 2026.
The report breaks down the psychological and aesthetic impact of this season’s most influential tones:
- Scarlet Red: This colour carries a sense of urgency and refuses to sit quietly in the background.
- Hot Pink: A tool for high-energy brand spaces, hot pink is designed to capture attention and encourage playful interaction.
- Russet: Leveraging associations with warmth and sustainability, this tone creates grounded and tactile consumer experiences.
- Chalk White: Signalling a cultural shift toward softness, this shade aligns with “quiet luxury” to create elevated, nurturing environments.
- Metallics: Inspired by the runway, metallics introduce light and movement to create futuristic yet luxurious environments.
- Wasabi: Emerging as a defining colour of 2026, this yellow-green brings a burst of energy that modernises any spatial environment.
Heaps + Stacks utilises this report to show how colour choice is a strategic tool for brands.
By highlighting successful activations from brands like The White Company, Dermalogica, Laneige, and Longchamp, the report provides actionable insights into driving emotional connection through design.
Founder and CEO of Heaps+Stacks, Keziah Wildsmith: “Colour is the cheat code for tapping into mood, signalling culture and setting the tone of a brand’s message. When used well, it transforms an activation from something passive into something you can truly feel. The Colour Index distils runway trends into a ready-to-use palette, giving brands a simple way to build cultural relevance into their next space.”
The Colour Index is available now for industry professionals across the fashion, beauty, and retail design sectors. Download a copy of the report here.