If You Were a Color, What Color Would You Be?
There’s a reason “What’s your favorite color?” is a roll-your-eyes-obvious conversation prompt. On the one hand, color allows humans to relate on the simplest level, beyond language. But the spectrum of ROYGBIV can also be limiting. What if we expanded our palette, though? Could we see each other more completely? These were the questions Estelle Bailey-Babenzien and Brendon Babenzien decided to tackle when they agreed to collaborate with the Whitney Museum of American Art on a color-themed project for the The Whitney Shop’s ‘New York Stories’ exhibit, which opens tomorrow.
The Babenziens are co-owners of NOAH, a socially conscious menswear brand that opened on Mulberry Street in 2015. When the duo was first approached by Lauri Freedman of the Whitney, they knew they wanted to do something that represented the racial diversity of New York, giving people tools to communicate the color of their soul as well as the color of their skin. So they commissioned local dye artist Jasmine Plantin to create 200 one-of-a-kind, hand-dyed hooded sweatshirts, each in a slightly different shade.
“We came up with colors that can’t be labeled, in the same way that skin colors can’t be labeled,” explained Estelle.
“But we’re never satisfied with just making a garment,” added Brendon. He wanted the project to tell a larger story, so he started researching which animals besides humans see color, and how. He discovered the European starling, a kind of bird that can see colors in ways humans can’t. Like many New Yorkers, European starlings are immigrants — they were brought across the pond for a Shakespeare in the Park production and never left. An additional campaign sweatshirt now features a silkscreen print of the starling as well.
NOAH asked a diverse group of New Yorkers — including some notable names like Alexander Wang, Cynthia Rowley, and Miss Info — to pose in the hoodies, asking them: “What color are you?” Their answers were surprising. “Some people really ran with it,” said Estelle. “This really tough New York street guy said his favorite color was lavender.” She says hers is a bright cream, while Brendon’s is blue, with different shades depending on the season.
To find your color, you’ll have to visit The Whitney Shop, where the NOAH hoodies will be sold exclusively starting September 18. Scroll down to see pictures from the campaign, and read color musings from different New Yorkers.
Occupation: I’m co-owner of Noah Clothing and an Interior Designer.
Where are you from? I live in New York bu... Name: Estelle Bailey-Babenzien (far right)
Occupation: I’m co-owner of Noah Clothing and an Interior Designer.
Where are you from? I live in New York but I'm from England. Born and raised in England. I've been in New York for 20 years.
What color are you? When I think about what color I feel like I am on the inside, I think it’s cream. Because I'm kind of neutral and calm and I love to eat cream.
What color is your sweatshirt? The color of this sweatshirt is the same color as my nails which is fiery-orangey … red. I feel like this is the same color as love.
Name: Sailor (middle)
Where are you from? NYC
What color are you? My color is pink and purple. And I’m 4 years old.
What color is your sweatshirt? This sweatshirt is pink. Dark pink. It looks like flamingo. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: I was, for a long time, an architect. But now I’m retired and living with my wife. And I enjoy my life now.
Where are you ... Name: Mas Pratomo
Occupation: I was, for a long time, an architect. But now I’m retired and living with my wife. And I enjoy my life now.
Where are you from? I came from Indonesia a long time ago. My age is ... you can say double eight. 88.
What color are you? You can say beige is a color that I like.
What color is your sweatshirt? My sweatshirt is blue because it fits with what I'm wearing at the moment. I am the color because I am Prat, and that is my color. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: Skateboarder
Where are you from? I'm originally from Atlanta, Georgia and I moved to New York about five years ago.
What c... Name: Coles Bailey
Occupation: Skateboarder
Where are you from? I'm originally from Atlanta, Georgia and I moved to New York about five years ago.
What color are you? Probably brown because it's just a really nice color.
What color is your sweatshirt? Yellow-orange. It goes with everything. I just really like it. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: I am a mother, wife, sister, friend ... I work with creatives.
Where are you from? I was born in Eritr... Name: Asmeret Berhe-Lumax (far right)
Occupation: I am a mother, wife, sister, friend ... I work with creatives.
Where are you from? I was born in Eritrea, grew up in Sweden, and now I've been in New York for 15 years.
What color are you I’m black with an aura of green.
Name: Stanley Lumax (far left)
Occupation: I’m the founder of African Chop House and a partner in a restaurant called Teranga.
Where are you from? I'm originally from Plainfield, New Jersey. My family’s originally from Ghana.
What color are you? I’ve loved blue since I was a kid. My father's favorite color was blue, my favorite aunt’s favorite color was blue, my high-school basketball team wore blue. It’s the color that as a child just always made me feel good. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: I’m a menswear designer and textile artist.
Where are you from? I am from Long Island, New York.
What color ar... Name: Jasmine Amendola Plantin
Occupation: I’m a menswear designer and textile artist.
Where are you from? I am from Long Island, New York.
What color are you? I think the color I’d describe myself as is kind of like this lava red. I just feel, like, really defiant in this era against a lot of the stuff that’s going on, so I really like this in-your-face red.
What color is your sweatshirt? The color of my sweatshirt is almost like vanilla. It almost has these different light colors in it. It reminds me of chocolate-chip-cookie ice cream. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: Hospitality and nightlife.
Where are you from? Born and raised in the West Village.
What color are you? Blue. Blue makes pe... Name: Beni Metsch
Occupation: Hospitality and nightlife.
Where are you from? Born and raised in the West Village.
What color are you? Blue. Blue makes people calm. The city is always crazy, but I try to be calm. My rooms are always blue.
What color is your sweatshirt? The color of my sweatshirt is Curaçao blue. My family is from Curaçao in the Caribbean. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: I’m a fashion designer.
Where are you from? I’m originally from Illinois although I'm a real New Yorker now.
What... Name: Cynthia Rowley (left)
Occupation: I’m a fashion designer.
Where are you from? I’m originally from Illinois although I'm a real New Yorker now.
What color are you? I've always felt like that sort of sunshiney-yellow aura around me. I love to be in the water and I love to be outside in nature.
What color is your sweatshirt? Well, I kind of couldn't decide. I love this golden yellow because it feels like sunshine, and the feeling of sunshine on my skin is my favorite. And then the green makes me feel like nature and grass and trees, and how I feel so lucky when I can be outside. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: I'm a hip-hop journalist and rap mom.
Where are you from? I was born in Chicago, but li... Name: Minya Oh (top). I’m better known as Miss Info.
Occupation: I'm a hip-hop journalist and rap mom.
Where are you from? I was born in Chicago, but lived in New York for so long I don’t think they’d have me anywhere else.
What color are you? I am the color yellow. I think it took me a really long time to get to that point of acceptance, but I am yellow through and through. Every day no matter what color I’m wearing, no matter where I am, I am defiantly, proudly yellow.
What color is your sweatshirt? My sweatshirt is the most glorious color of mashed up blueberry stain on your teeth. That’s what it is. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: I am an artist.
Where are you from? North Dakota. I've been in New York for 13 years.
What color are you? Lately a Dioxazi... Name: Curtis Kulig
Occupation: I am an artist.
Where are you from? North Dakota. I've been in New York for 13 years.
What color are you? Lately a Dioxazine violet, but I grew up a blue.
What color is your sweatshirt? This autumn-yellow color. I chose it because it fits our arriving season and it feels optimistic. It reminds me of that DeKooning painting "Woman Ochre," which isn't optimistic at all. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
Occupation: Fiber Artist
Where are you from? I'm from Japan and I came here 20 years ago.
What color are you? I’m a fiber arti... Name: Nobu Tsuruta (right)
Occupation: Fiber Artist
Where are you from? I'm from Japan and I came here 20 years ago.
What color are you? I’m a fiber artist. I use a lot of color every day. I touch a lot of fiber every day. Every color has beautiful energy and different energy, so I love all colors.
What color is your sweatshirt? I have one boy, my son. He introduced this project to me so we came here together. He picked up the mustard color today. That's why I picked up the ketchup color. Photo: Courtesy of Noah
