About this combination
A study in warmth against depth. Kurenai, the crimson drawn from safflower petals, was a luxury dye reserved for the robes of high-ranking courtiers. Set against kon — the darkest grade of indigo — the pair became a signature of formal attire from the Heian court through to Edo merchant households.
Where it works
- Editorial headers where gravitas is needed
- Branding that balances warmth with authority
- Print posters — the contrast holds up at any size
Historical context
This combination from Wada's catalog anchors Kurenai, Kon and Gofun in the red family — a 3-colour grouping with a refined, solemn, bold character, recorded in the Heian-era volumes of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, where these shikisai names have sat in the public domain for generations. Its strongest pairing — Kon on Gofun — reaches a contrast ratio of 12.20:1, clearing the WCAG AAA bar for body text, so it holds up for text-on-colour layouts as well as decorative use.