CHICAGO, March 20 (UPI) -- Primary colors adorned everything from bakeware to utensil handles at International Housewares Association trade show in Chicago Saturday.
Virtually gone is any trace of pastel, with bright and bold the dominant theme on the Dine & Design Expo floor.
Yellow had been expected to be the next big color in the U.S. housewares industry.
"Yellow tends to be positive, upbeat, friendly, optimistic and happy," said Allen Ferrell, president of The Color Marketing Group, as the show opened Saturday at Chicago's McCormick Place.
"There is a positive movement in the economy and world conflict appears to be safer and more in control. Consumers have a positive, happier mindset and they get that from the color yellow.
"They are looking for clean, fresh, soft and soothing colors," Ferrell adds. "People are having an emotional experience with color."
But black-and-white, especially check patterns, were still very much in evidence while traditionally brushed stainless items took on colorful hues.
Some 60,000 buyers are expected to inspect the show's 2,100 exhibits during its three-day run.
