Monochrome Monday: The Ochre Edition

Derived from the Greek word ‘Ochros’ (meaning yellowish), this shade is an earthy color bathed in mud and gold, full of depth with yellow, red, brown, and orange undertones. Since 2019, Ochre has been steadily on the rise, evidenced by increased online searches for terms like ‘ochre’ and its sister shade ‘burnt orange’, particularly on platforms like Pinterest where searches for ‘ochre living room’ and ‘ochre bedroom’ have surged. Besides home decor, Ochre finds itself present in the world of style as well. While seeking out Ochre, you might encounter it disguised under various names, from ‘mustard yellow’ and ‘light brown’ to ‘amber’ and ‘rust’, but the rich tones of Ochre are likely to be present within these shades.

This ancient hue has appeared in prehistoric cave paintings dating back as far as 35,000 years and featured prominently in Goya’s infamous Black Paintings from the 19th century, where it was one of the very few colours the painter used. Yet, you may most recognize it from your grandparents’ 1970s-era sofas. More recently, Ochre has found its way into fashion, particularly regional fashion. In this list, we highlight regional brands incorporating ‘ochre’ into their pieces and designs.