Happy Tuesday! This week, in honor of the Lunar New Year and the 2026 Fire Horse, we’re going to talk about the bright, warm, very much alive red you see below. Let’s get into it.
Psychology
Red is physiologically activating — it heightens alertness and naturally draws the eye. But this specific warm, bright red feels expansive, joyful, open, and communal instead of confrontational and aggressive.
And in Chinese culture, red symbolizes good fortune happiness, protection and vitality. It was also believed to ward off evil spirits and misfortune.
History
Red has long been central to Chinese material culture, as seen through vermillion temple pillars, red silk wedding garments, as well as paper cuttings and lanterns.
And during Lunar New Year, doorways are framed in it, markets overflow with it, and entire cities seem dipped in it.
Plus, it’s a Fire Horse year, which appears only once every 60 years in the sexagenary cycle. Fire enhances the Horse’s natural intensity making it a year traditionally associated with bold decisions, major life shifts, and independence.
And this bright red shade mirrors that energy. It moves and signals renewal not as quiet rebirth, but as ignition.
Fashion
Caroline Herrera Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear
In Caroline Herrera’s Spring 2026 collection, this red shade amplifies the architectural silhouettes in a way that feels both romantic and commanding.
Dries Van Noten Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear
In Dries Van Noten’s Spring 2026 collection, this electric red feels graphic and playful against bold black-and-white prints. Here it reads less ceremonial and more avant-garde.
Interiors
In interiors this shade transforms a space from passive to dynamic. Used sparingly, it energizes. Used fully, it becomes theatrical and ceremonial.
For example, in the space below, layered reds and golden ochres wrap the room in warmth, while the bold crimson artwork anchors the space with a confident, almost ceremonial intensity.
And in these saturated red interiors, high-gloss paneling and architectural moldings turn the walls into a dramatic envelope, transforming traditional rooms into immersive, almost theatrical spaces where the color becomes the atmosphere itself.
This shade also works especially well when paired with brushed gold, dark walnut, cream plaster, and jade green.
Branding
Red in branding often signals urgency (sales, alerts, fast food), but in combination with a cultural anchor, it signals something deeper. In Chinese branding, for example, this red represents fortune, prestige, and heritage.
Pantone® & More
If you’re looking to work with this shade, I recommend Pantone 18-1663 TCX “Chinese Red”. Here it is below, along with the tech specs, as usual:
HEX:
#D01C1FRGB: 208, 28, 31
CMYK: 0, 87, 85, 18
Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed learning about today’s red, please give this post a like so I know what you guys want to see more of :)
Or tell me, which color should I feature next? See you next Tuesday!