The Dictionary of
Color Combinations

Meiji era · refined · cool · austere

Deep Indigo & Cream 紺と生成

The darkest indigo against unbleached cream — the color of a Meiji schoolboy's uniform.

紺

Kon

#142747

Deep indigo

生成

Kinari

#F3EBDA

Unbleached cream

墨

Sumi

#2B2B2B

Ink black

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About this combination

Kon is the deepest grade of indigo — used for samurai undergarments, farmers' field clothes, and eventually Meiji-era school uniforms. Against the cream of unbleached cotton, it reads as straightforward, honest, and quietly formal.

Where it works

  • School and academic branding
  • Editorial for serious journalism
  • Minimalist fashion

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.

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From the editorial · Long read

Wabi-Sabi Color Theory: The Beauty of Things That Have Aged

What it actually means for color when a tradition values age over newness — the tea-room palette, three exemplars, and the anti-patterns to avoid.

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