Klein Blue
History, Interior, Fashion + Graphic Design, & Pantone®
This electric ultramarine blue is so rich, it’s almost got a hypnotic quality to it. Let’s talk about the famous Klein Blue!
As always—before we get into the history, design applications, and Pantone® + color characteristics, let’s see the general consensus on this blue color!
A Brief History
Also known as International Klein Blue (IKB), this shade was created in the late 1950s by artist Yves Klein in partnership with Parisian paint supplier Edouard Adam.
Klein saw blue as a transcendent color that could evoke infinity and depth like no other, and so this color was the dominant element in much of his work.
“Blue has no dimensions; it is beyond dimensions, whereas the other colors are not…All colours arouse specific associative ideas… while blue suggests at most the sea and sky, and they, after all, are in actual, visible nature what is most abstract.”
—Yves Klein
His signature blue paintings were created using a special synthetic resin binder, which locked in the pigment’s luminosity, making the color seem almost alive. Klein then patented its formula in 1960 to preserve its striking glow.
He also famously staged performances where he painted with nude models as “living brushes,” pressing them against canvases coated in this hypnotic shade.
Today, Klein Blue remains just as bold and attention-grabbing, continuing to be a favorite across interior design, fashion, graphic design, and more!
Interior Design
Klein Blue makes a bold statement, but when overused, it quickly becomes too bold. I’d even say it hurts to look at if there’s too much. See for yourself:
To be fair, these are highly stylized examples—but they perfectly illustrate just how much Klein Blue can take over, or even drown a space when not balanced properly.
Now let’s check out some more balanced interior applications:
Galleries & Statement Spaces
Again, because the blue is so bold, you’ll usually only see it in art galleries or concept spaces. It doesn’t just decorate—it dominates, even in small quantity.
Homes
But, if you’re feeling daring, Klein Blue can make for a pretty cool statement piece. When used sparingly, it injects serious energy into a space.
Best pairings? Muted warm neutrals, brass accents, and modern textures like velvet or matte paint finishes can prevent this bright blue from feeling overwhelming.
Fashion Design
In high-fashion, Klein Blue remains relevant—showing up in Salvatore Ferragamo’s and Alberta Ferretti’s Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear collections.
Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear
Ferragamo’s choice of a Klein type of blue here isn’t incidental—it’s a nod to artistic heritage, yet distinctly futuristic in its execution.
The blue is used as the main character in the pieces below, not just as accent, showing how the bold color carries similar weight to form.
Alberta Ferretti Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear
On the other hand, Alberta Ferretti takes Klein Blue and mutes its intensity, transforming it from a statement of power into one of fluidity and elegance.
The collection leans into sheer fabrics, delicate ruffles, and airy movement, making the saturated blue feel almost weightless.
Celine SS Spring/Summer 2017
Though not the most current, in 2017, Celine directly used Klein’s work, bringing his Nude Anthropometry art to life on the runway. Merging conceptualism and couture!
Graphic Design & Branding
From sleek, high-gloss packaging to bold typographic layouts and expressive, abstract compositions, this bright blue can be both structured and fluid.
Pantone® & More
Klein Blue is a very specific ultramarine blue, but if you’re looking for a close match in the Pantone Matching System, the best equivalent is Pantone 286 C.
If you want to use Klein Blue digitally, here are its closest HEX & RGB values as well:
HEX: #002FA7
RGB: (0, 47, 167)
As always, thanks for reading! Hopefully, you learned something new today or are maybe now inspired to experiment with this bold, electrifying blue.
It’s so much like Majorelle blue! cf the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, long-inhabited by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge and now part of the YSL Museum there. Would be interesting to see which one influenced the other ……