Colour me happy
Everybody has a favourite one. Technically there are 7 of them and we can see 1 million variations. No one we know seems to have liked the one picked for their school uniform and we like to mix them up in our beach towel designs lots and often!
Yes, we’re talking about colour. Blue, Pink, Red, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange – we all respond in different ways to them and they all have a meaning and an impact on how we feel.
In this world of colour, everyone has a difference preference which defines their uniqueness and personality. We choose colours when we choose clothes, a car, a notebook, a water bottle; basically colour is a consideration for almost everything we buy – including a beach towel!
What is colour?
Remember physics class in school? Colour is, quite simply, broken down white light. Grab a strong latte and bear with us for a few seconds: it’s a dissection of light at different wavelengths and each wavelength is perceived as a separate colour. Objects tend to absorb or reflect these wavelengths, so when we see a yellow lemon, it is the yellow wavelength that is being reflected while all others are being absorbed.
Annnnddd, well done. That’s the end of the class! Now that we have understood what colour means, let’s explore some of the fun stuff about it.
Colour and mood
What is it about a rainbow that gives you a sense of happiness and cheer? That they’re pretty rare? They symbolise calm after a storm. It makes you think of the pot of gold at the end of it?! Whatever the association, the colours themselves have an effect on our minds.
We feel colour and on these sometimes grey and often cooler Autumn days, colour can enhance our mood, the way we look and feel.
Colours in the red area of the colour spectrum are known as warm colours and include red, orange, and yellow. These warm colours evoke emotions of warmth and comfort.
Colours on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colours and include purple, and green. These colours are often described as calm.
Colour and energy
Having your colours “done” back in the 70s used to be popular (so we are told) and it sounds like it was that era’s equivalent of today’s personal stylists. For some reason it fell out of favour with the fashion press. But what do they know?
Anyway, since the 1970s, research has shown that people across cultures and time tend to disproportionately prefer blue when asked to pick their favourite colour. In fact, 57% of men report their favourite colour to be blue, with green a close second. According to the stats, yellow isn’t preferred by most people, with only five percent of people claiming it as their most favourite colour, and apparently, as people get older, they start to shun orange!
Wearing the best colours for you will make you look and feel healthier, happier and more vibrant.
Why is colour so important?
Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced chromotherapy (or curology) – the use of colours to heal. Verywellmind has summarised these nicely for us:
- Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.
- Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
- Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.
- Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.
- Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.
Choosing your personal palette
There’s a complex science behind analysing your colours – as the ones which suit us best and the tones which work on us depend very much on our hair colour, skin tone and the colour of our eyes.
Colours are broken down into four quarters of a colour wheel, each named after a season of the year. The warm colours are Autumn and Spring, the cool colours Winter and Summer. These four categories have now been expanded into six new themes: light, deep, warm, soft, clear and cool, with 42 possible palettes. The new theory (based on the Munsell colour system) hinges on the idea that as well as suiting different shades, people need varying levels of brightness, or contrast, to look their best.
If that all sounds a little complicated then fear not. We’re broken it all down in our handy little table below, which should make choosing your favourite colours, hues, and shades as easy as possible.
| Colour | Meaning | Why it’s good | Why we like it |
| Red | Energy, strength, power, determination, passion and love. | Enhances metabolism | It attracts attention more than any other colour! |
| Orange | Warmth, enthusiasm, change, health, fun, balance and expression | Combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow | Makes us think of holidays in the tropics |
| Yellow | Enthusiasm, happiness, creativity, determination, joy and sunshine | Promoted muscle energy | Reminds us of sunshine and New York taxi cabs |
| Green | Growth, harmony, freshness, loyalty, | Traditionally associated with money and success | It’s the colour of nature |
| Blue | Wisdom, confidence and intelligence | It has a healing power, associated with depth and stability | Slows metabolism causing a calming effect |
| Purple | Power, luxury, and ambition, dignity, creativity, mystery, and magic. | Lilac is this season’s prime pastel | Associated with royalty and we might just be watching Prince Harry get married later this month! |
| Pink | Joy, vibrant, fun, softness, kindness, nurturing, and compassion, love and romance | Two words: Rose quartz. Pantone recently announced a this brand new shade (that peachy, muted pink you’ll have seen on your insta!) | It’s playful and reminds us of Fairy Floss |
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What colours are in fashion now you might be wondering.
Crayola and ice cream pastels are top of the list and go perfectly with our Hammamas Splice Dolce made up of a combination of six graduated colours representing the sweetness of colour you see when meandering through coastal Greek villages.
The fashionista are also telling us that rather than wearing one piece in a single shade, layer neons, sorbets, and muted tones. So if you’re unique and love the yellows then cover yourself head to toe in honey, canary, and mustard, and throw in our Hammamas Circa Daisy.
If you feel like a bit of ‘colour drenching’, get on it with a jumbo Turkish cotton beach towel in vibrant Jumbo Apple or if purple is your thang then instead of sticking with the one purple piece, make like a canvas and cover yourselves in plum, violet, and grape.
Colour is a form of expression – go ahead and embrace yours. Share your style and say hi to us on Instagram @hammamas
With love from the Hammamas team x
Engaged Bachelor couple Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich are already getting beach ready for their honeymoon, showing off with their Hammamas on the beaches of Sydney recently.
Rumour has it that their upcoming nuptials are due to take place this summer in Italy and other reports tell us that Anna has found her dream wedding dress. But have they found their perfect honeymoon destination? The Hammamas team thought we’d take a few guesses at where they might go after their wedding in Italy and give you all some inspiration about where to spend your European summer holidays this year.
Choose your mood
First thing’s first – what kind of summer break do you want this year? Are you an ‘off the beaten track explorer’, a beach babe (or bum!), seeking sporty activities or just want to meander the streets of a new city on your travels and get a little lost?
If you like a stat, you’ll be interested to know that in the 10 years leading up to 2015 the number of Australians holidaying abroad surged by 145% to 5.4 million (thanks Tourism Research Australia). That’s an average of 31 out of 100 Australian residents leaving our shores to travel overseas this summer. The average length of holidays is around 14 days and we all know that time flies when you’re having fun! So we’ve rustled up some ideas for you (and our friends Tim and Anna!) so that you can Insta-spam your friends this Australian winter with a European summer getaway!
Stay a while in Italy
If Anna and Tim are getting wed in Italy and don’t want to travel further, then Sicily could be a winner. They could simply hop on over to what is apparently the most Instagrammable island on earth and absorb the island’s gorgeous hilltop towns, cobblestone streets and rugged coastline.
Not convinced by a new photo opportunity around every corner?
Of all the reasons to visit Sicily, Mount Etna is top of the list. Yes it’s a volcano, yes it still erupts and yes it’s the second tallest in the world which makes it even more scary; however, it’s an incredibly popular sightseeing location offering a-maz-ing views whilst you walk around the old crater.
The capital Palermo, on the north coast, has museums, chapels, cathedrals and churches if you want to absorb some culture and history; then reward yourself by hiring a car and spending a couple of days on the northwest corner of the island exploring the beaches.
Pack your travel towel and tick these off your list: Taormina and Catania, San Vito lo Capo, Mondello Beach in Palermo, Calamosche Beach, Isola Bella, Scala dei Turchi! Phew! You’re welcome.
Mix Eastern tradition with Western glamour in Marrakech
Colour and contrasts go perfectly with the Hammamas clash range (sorry – we couldn’t resist name dropping one of our favourite collections!) This North African city is all about Souks, Bazaars and rooftops.
Often called the red city, it’s sun-soaked all year long so in another shameless plug, here’s how to wear your Hammamas Turkish beach towel to protect your head from the sun and heat!
Go to a traditional hammam during your stay. Not to be confused with our cotton travel towels (Hammamas), the Hammam is a place where the Moroccans go regularly to bathe. If you enjoy steam bath or sauna, you should head to the Hammam. Stay until your skin glows!
Get up close and personal with Moroccan culture and stay in a luxury Riad. We bet Anna and Tim will be having their own Riad at Royal Mansour Marrakech – the most fancy pants of luxury hotels in Marrakech. The newlyweds will likely have one of the 53 private riads commissioned by King Mohammed VI and built in four hectares of Moorish gardens.
Back to reality for the rest of us – spend your daytimes wandering the Souks inside the Medina walls of old Marrakech then at night, get your fortune told at Djemma el Fna but watch out for the snake charmers!
Our home away from home – Turkey
Made near Pamukkale, if you’ve started the list of things you need to pack then your Hammamas beach towels should be one of them.
Also called Cotton Castle, you could think you’re in a fantasy movie if you visit Pamukkale with it’s snow-white petrified waterfall.
The white travertine pools of Pamukkale are famous for their healing thermal mineral waters and the nearby ancient city of Hierapolis with it’s ruins is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – add it to your bucket list please!
If you’re more into sand and sea then Patara, Turkey’s longest beach, is a worthy choice.
We know Tim Robards is all about fitness so maybe they’ll include some outdoor activities on their honeymoon and visit Olu Deniz for a spot of paragliding; Antalya for white water rafting; Kas for scuba diving, sea kayaking and canyoning and then top it off with some mountain biking in Cappadocia.
Iceland – the Wildcard
Glaciers, Fjords, National Parks, Geothermal Pools…I know, we had you at ‘hello’ right. We had to throw something random into the mix and for us it’s Iceland. Not the typical Aussie getaway we’ll admit, but a very cool place to visit.
Mix it up with relaxation in the natural hot springs and then some off-road driving on a tour across the Vatnajokull Glacier. From the famous black beaches in the south to the Northern lights, Iceland might just be that little gem you’ve been searching for. Need we say more?
Why choose one destination when you can have your cake and eat it too. The combination holiday is apparently now a ‘real big thing’ where you visit more than one destination during that same very trip. So let’s not forget to pack your perfect travel towels – compact and lightweight. So, just like one destination, you don’t have to pick which one you want to take with you!
A perfect travel companion for any holiday. Have fun!
With love from the Hammamas team x