Eggplant purple is a rich, deep shade that has become quite trendy in recent years. But what exactly is eggplant purple and how did it get its name? In this article, we’ll explore the origins and characteristics of this eye-catching color.
Where does the name “eggplant purple” come from?
Unsurprisingly, eggplant purple gets its name from the color of eggplants. Eggplants are a vegetable with a deep, rich purple skin that inspired the name of this color.
The first recorded use of the term “eggplant” to refer to the purple color rather than the vegetable was in 1915. It became more widely known as a color name in 1927 when it was included in a dictionary of color names published by The Maerz and Paul Dictionary of Color.
What are the hex and RGB values for eggplant purple?
In web design and digital applications, colors are defined using hex codes and RGB values. Here are the precise values that make up the color eggplant purple:
| Color System | Value |
|---|---|
| Hex Code | #614051 |
| RGB | RGB(97,64,81) |
As you can see, eggplant purple is created by mixing relatively even amounts of red, blue and green. The high amount of blue contributes to the purple tone.
What are some alternate names for eggplant purple?
Over the years, eggplant purple has gone by several other names including:
- Aubergine
- Deep purple
- Royal purple
- Tyrian purple
Many of these alternate names like “aubergine” and “royal purple” try to capture the rich, luxurious shade of this color.
How does eggplant purple appear in nature?
In nature, eggplant purple can be found in a few places:
- The skins of eggplants and other purple vegetables like purple cabbages
- Violets and pansies
- Grapes and plums
- Amethyst geodes
Eggplant purple stands out as an extremely rare natural color. Most plants and minerals have blue, red or green hues. Finding such a saturated purple color in nature is uncommon.
How is eggplant purple used in fashion and design?
Eggplant purple has become a staple color in the worlds of fashion and interior design. Its richer, more vibrant shade helps it stand out from basic purple. Some key uses of eggplant purple include:
- Clothing – Eggplant works well for dresses, jackets, shoes and accessories. It pairs nicely with black or gray.
- Home décor – Eggplant can be used for accent walls, pillows, throws and area rugs.
- Logos and branding – Eggplant purple helps brands stand out and look sophisticated.
- Packaging – Cosmetics, gourmet food and wine often use eggplant packaging.
Compared to brighter purples, eggplant works best in more elegant, upscale designs.
How does eggplant purple make people feel?
Color psychology suggests eggplant purple evokes the following feelings and meanings:
- Royalty – Historically associated with kings, queens and emperors
- Luxury – Has an elite, exclusive vibe
- Creativity – Inspires the imagination and experiments with self-expression
- Mystery – Sense of the unknown and undiscovered
While feelings about color are subjective, many people see eggplant purple as richer and more glamorous than lighter purples.
How does eggplant purple contrast with other colors?
With its bold hue, eggplant naturally contrasts well with many colors. Here are some of the top color pairings:
| Color | Contrast Level |
|---|---|
| White | High contrast |
| Black | High contrast |
| Gray | Medium-high contrast |
| Green | Complementary contrast |
White or black backgrounds really make the eggplant pop. Soft gray and green pairings tone down the brightness a bit.
How does eggplant purple get its distinctive rich color?
The specific mix of red, blue and green light waves in eggplant purple gives it a special quality.
Purple sits at the end of the visible color spectrum. It has the shortest wavelengths and highest frequency of visible light. This strong energy at a wavelength of about 420-450 nanometers stimulates our eyes’ cone cells to perceive purples and violets.
Within the purple family, eggplant is darker and richer than basic purple. This comes from having:
- A slightly higher ratio of red light
- Lower amounts of bright blue light
- Just a touch of green light
These factors dampen the brightness a bit and add nuance. This gives eggplant purple its regal, velvety appearance compared to plain purple.
How was eggplant purple created historically?
Throughout history, rich purple dyes were prized for their rarity and cost. Eggplant purple was traditionally created using:
- Murex sea snails – Made the famed Tyrian purple dye used by royalty in Ancient Rome.
- Purple carrots – Used by weavers in the Ottoman Empire to dye fabrics.
- Mulberries – Crushed berries made a purple dye in medieval Europe.
- Lichen – Produces a purple dye called orchil that was popular for tapestries.
These natural sources produced luxurious purple fabrics and garments reserved for the elite. Modern synthetic eggplant dyes are more affordable and accessible.
Conclusion
Eggplant purple stands out for its regal, elegant nature. The precise mix of red, blue and green light defines its rich, saturated tone that flatters so many styles and designs. Next time you see this gorgeous shade, you’ll know exactly what makes eggplant purple so special.
