About this combination
Kikyō-iro is the cool, deep purple of the Chinese bellflower — a traditional emblem of faith and honesty. With sumi ink, it becomes the color scheme of samurai formal wear in late Muromachi period.
Where it works
- Legal, consulting, professional services
- Editorial for serious long-form
- Product packaging for dark cosmetics
Historical context
This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.