The color purple: meaning and palettes to use it
Purple (or violet, or lilac, depending on the shade) is the rarest color in nature, and that has earned it centuries of prestige. Here's what it means, which shade to choose and palettes to use it.
Click a color to copy its code.
What the color purple means
It's linked to mystery, spirituality, creativity, imagination and luxury. It's a mix of red and blue: it has some of one's passion and some of the other's calm.
For centuries it was extremely expensive to make, reserved for kings and high-ranking clergy. That is where its royal association, still alive today, comes from.
What purple says about a brand
It works for creative, tech, wellness or accessible-luxury brands. It's uncommon in many industries, so it stands out.
Lilacs and lavenders convey calm; bright purples, creativity and energy; eggplant tones, sophistication.
Not every shade of purple says the same thing
Electric violet
Creative and digital.
Lavender
Calm and wellness.
Eggplant
Sophisticated and nocturnal.
Lilac
Soft and romantic.
Palettes with purple to copy
Each swatch shows the contrast of the text that reads best on top of it. From 4.5:1 it works for body text.
Creative
Studios, tech, startups
Lavender
Wellness, cosmetics, rest
Eggplant and gold
Luxury, events, wine
What goes with purple
- Goes well with
- Yellow and gold (its complement), mint green, white and black.
- Use with care
- Bright reds and blues right next to it: they compete with its two “parents.”
Purple around the world
In Spain, purple is the color of Holy Week, worn on the robes of many penitents in the processions, and for years now the color of the feminist movement and March 8, International Women's Day.
In Mexico, purple also marks Lent and appears on Day of the Dead altars.
Design with this palette, for free
Copy the codes and take them to Polimake's design canvas: social posts, covers and thumbnails with your own photos, no subscription needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Are purple, violet and lilac the same?
- Not exactly: violet leans blue, purple sits between red and blue, and lilac is a light, soft version.
- Why is purple the color of feminism?
- The suffragettes adopted it in the early 20th century, and today it is the color of March 8, International Women's Day, in Spain and much of the world.