LOS ANGELES (Mar. 30, 2009)—Color forecasting firm Pantone has paired up with Santa Barbara, Calif.-based footwear company SeaVees to create a collection of limited-edition sneakers. The duo celebrated the launch with a party on March 19 in conjunction with LA Fashion Week at Fred Segal.

SeaVees limited-edition styles on display at Fred Segal.

“SeaVees contacted us with the idea to celebrate Pantone’s color legacy with a limited-edition collection inspired by the company’s founder and release of the first PMS Color guide in 1963,” Debra Stevenson, branding strategy and licensing for Pantone Xrite, tells WSAToday.com. “It was a high-concept idea that perfectly embodied the spirit of the Pantone brand, and we went for it immediately.”

According to Stevenson, SeaVees co-founders Derek Galkin and Steve Tiller had the unique opportunity to visit the archives where they viewed the only known copy of the guide. The pair was so inspired by the graphic layouts of each page, they incorporated both the vintage format of the color chips and the Pantone logo. The sneakers are available in seven shades including purple, orange, turquoise, gray, beige, yellow and lime green, and are made from classic canvas and suede. Each style is named after an influential date in ’60s California culture.

The full selection of sneakers inspired by Pantone colors.

“As designers, we are users of the Pantone Matching System on a daily basis,” Galkin and Tiller say. “We chose ‘base blends’ that epitomize the casual style of California in 1963. We thought it was cool that these colors were described as ‘new and exciting’ in the copy of the vintage color guide. The colors did not have names back then—only 3-digit codes. The vintage Pantone logo and 3-digit color code are heat-branded on the back of each shoe.”

The limited-edition 09/63 range can be purchased at Conveyor at Fred Segal, Seavees.com and other select retail environments worldwide for $125. The 1,963 pairs are available in both men’s and women’s sizing. The Pantone and SeaVees license is managed by LA-based brand consultancy, The Skyline Studios.

Pantone has also recently collaborated with The Gap, as well as a pop-up shop in New York City. Other licensed partnerships with the world’s leading authority include Japanese retailer Uniqlo, SoftBank Japan, Fine Paints of Europe and numerous household brands.

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