The Thread Vol. 1 – The Color Card
The Salmon Situation
When does a color transcend the crayon box? When does a color stop being just a wavelength of light and become a situation? A vibe. An entire mood.
At McCalman.Co, our very first color card goes out to Salmon in all of its pinky hues, and we’ve dubbed our affair The Salmon Situation. It all starts with vintage shelves, a longtime client, and that rare moment when a casual Facebook Marketplace scroll turns into an audible gasp.
Now our client, she may love it, and come on, we do too because we love all colors (even you heliotrope, you sad-sounding crayon). For me, salmon can’t seem to make up its mind—not pink enough to be pink, not orange enough to be orange. Make a choice, salmon. Pick a lane! And don't get me started on trying to wear it. Trust me, when you're as pale as I am, sporting salmon is less "sophisticated neutral" and more "why do you look like an uncooked fish fillet?" The salmon itself? The fish is delicious. The color, on the other hand, well, it's trying its best.
But before we go deeper into our current Salmon Situationship, let's put some historical respect on this peculiar pink's name. There are a few competing theories—stay with me:
Back in the 19th century, people were obsessed with using nature as a muse—art, fashion, language, you name it. And let’s be real, there’s nothing quite as dramatic as the salmon’s fiery pink transformation during spawning season. It’s the kind of color that practically screams vitality, renewal, and that beautiful cycle of life we’re all chasing. No wonder it captured the imagination of the time. Imagine that—a fish’s swan song inspiring artists and poets while moonlighting as the color wheel’s drama queen for centuries. Seriously, who knew salmon was out here pulling double duty—spawning life and aesthetics? Salmon basically handed humanity a color and said, “You’re welcome.”
Now, Wikipedia has its own take, claiming the color draws its inspiration not from the fish’s flashy, blue-gold scales but from its flesh. Apologies, my guy, but apparently, your insides are doing the heavy lifting in this story. While the fish itself was documented as early as the 1200s, the color didn’t get its official English christening until the late 1700s—because, let’s be honest, nothing truly exists until the English catalog it. The hue then reached its first aesthetic apex during the Impressionist era, when artists obsessed over capturing the ephemeral beauty of light and color.
Seriously though—how much can we really trust Wikipedia anyway? I mean, it’s basically a glorified group project, and we all know how those go. Personally, I’m all about the idea that this complex hue—made of who knows how many mysterious pigments—earned its name from something bigger. That fiery pink transformation? It’s not just a biology flex; it’s the journey of life, people. Resilience, renewal, and that poetic moment where nature turns “meh” into “wow.”
And what about those late-night scrolling sessions that yield Venmo-worthy salmon treasures on Facebook Marketplace? Oh, we’re getting there—trust me.
First, let’s talk about salmon’s encore performances through the decades. In the 1950s, it resurged dramatically, embodied by Marilyn Monroe’s pink bathroom ensemble—complete with a matching robe and satin slippers. Was it textbook salmon? Maybe not, but back then, anyone in the know understood: salmon was sophistication in technicolor.
Then came the 1980s, when salmon cozied up to wicker furniture and Miami Vice, earning a permanent seat at the Golden Girls aesthetic table. But it didn’t stop there. By the early 2000s, salmon underwent yet another rebrand, morphing into Millennial Pink—the safe, muted blush that somehow launched a thousand startups and vomited on every overpriced co-working space.
And that brings us here, full circle, to our current Salmon Situationship. So, what is McCalman.Co’s Salmon Situation? Sorry, we can’t spill the beans yet. You’ll have to wait for our (redacted) project in (redacted) building with (redacted) client in 2025.
Here’s what we can say: Whether you’re channeling salmon’s fiery transformation, scrolling for treasures, or watching Blanche and Rose debate life’s finer points, salmon has always been there.
At McCalman.Co, we believe colors aren’t just trends. They’re moods—lightning in a bottle for a brand. They’re reactions, stories, and emotions manifested in light.
Stay tuned as we share more color stories. Next time, we promise, we’ll tell all.