Traditionally reserved for royalty in the West, purple was considered a colour denoting status and wealth in the past because of the tedious process required to attain the purple dye from Bolinus brandaris snails.
Traditionally reserved for royalty in the West, purple was considered a colour denoting status and wealth in the past because of the tedious process required to attain the purple dye from Bolinus brandaris snails.
According to The New York Times: “To make Tyrian purple, marine snails were collected by the thousands. They were then boiled for days in giant lead vats, producing a terrible odour. The snails, though, aren’t purple to begin with. The craftsmen were harvesting chemical precursors from the snails that, through heat and light, were transformed into the valuable dye.”
Even though the process has become simpler, thanks to the discovery of chemical dyes, this plush mauve tone continues to convey a sense of authority, mystery and decadence.
WONG LIANGYUAN
Colour Specialist, Haven Lifestyle
