Luxury has always expressed itself through colour in ways that feel instinctive rather than deliberate. Long before branding became a visual shorthand for status, shades and tones quietly communicated
refinement, confidence, and restraint. In 2025, colour in luxury leather goods took on a deeper role, moving beyond surface appeal to reflect how people feel and how they wish to engage with the world.
This shift is reflected clearly in the season’s palette, which moves away from loud statements toward thoughtful nuance. Grounded neutrals offer calm and continuity, rich reds convey confidence without excess, and refined metallics introduce optimism with restraint. Annika Saraf, Co-Founder & Creative Director – AKINNA, shares a look back at the colours that dominated 2025 and what it meant in the fashion world
Earthy Browns: The Rise of the Modern Neutral
If black once ruled the luxury leather universe as the default expression of sophistication, 2025 belongs firmly to brown in all its nuanced and earthy forms. From warm cognac and mocha to deeper espresso and umber, brown has stepped into the role of the modern neutral, offering depth without dominance and elegance without rigidity. This transition feels natural, reflecting a broader shift in how luxury is perceived and experienced.
The rise of brown is deeply psychological. It conveys stability, trust, and permanence, qualities that feel reassuring in a world shaped by constant change. In leather goods, brown celebrates material honesty, allowing natural grain, patina, and the beauty of ageing to be seen rather than hidden. These colours align effortlessly with the growing focus on sustainability, heritage, and slow luxury, where pieces are chosen to endure and evolve.
Burgundy and Cherry Red: A Confident Return
Red has never truly left the fashion conversation, yet in 2025, it returned with renewed confidence and maturity. Burgundy and cherry red are re-emerging in luxury leather goods, no longer tied to fleeting festivity or overt sensuality but embraced for their depth, structure, and emotional richness. These deeper reds carry strong psychological resonance, evoking ambition and quiet power without the intensity of brighter shades.
In leather, they offer an elegant alternative to classic neutrals, allowing wearers to express individuality while remaining refined. Their growing presence across handbags, travel accessories, and footwear reflects a new kind of versatility, especially when paired with clean, minimal silhouettes.
Bold Metallics: Luxury Learns to Reflect
In 2025, metallics stepped into the spotlight with confidence, though in a far more refined manner than in previous fashion cycles. Gold, silver, and bronze are no longer used simply for shine, while mixed metallic finishes take centre stage across luxury collections. This renewed presence signals a desire for glamour that feels intelligent and intentional rather than excessive.
Across global luxury collections, designers have embraced mixed metallic finishes as a way to reintroduce glamour without excess. When warm and cool metallic shades coexist within a single piece, they create depth and versatility, allowing leather goods to move effortlessly from daytime elegance to evening impact. Metallics are no longer ornamental accents but confident expressions of modern luxury.
Soft Hues: Powder Pink and Butter Yellow Take Centre Stage
Perhaps the most surprising colour story of 2025 unfolds through its softer shades. Powder pink and butter yellow have found their place in luxury leather, quietly challenging long-held ideas of what power and seriousness are meant to look like. Their presence signals confidence that does not rely on severity.
Powder pink carries a sense of calm and self-awareness, moving far beyond any notion of frivolity. Butter yellow brings warmth and optimism, softening the dominance of darker, traditional tones. When translated into leather and shaped into clean, sculptural forms, these hues feel distinctly modern. They suggest that luxury can be gentle yet assured, expressive yet refined, and deeply personal without losing its sense of purpose.
A Palette That Reflects a Changing Luxury Mindset
The dominant colours of 2025 reveal a luxury consumer who values meaning as much as material. Earthy browns ground us, burgundy and cherry red empower us, metallics uplift us, and soft pastels reassure us. Together, they form a palette that mirrors contemporary psychology: layered, thoughtful, and quietly assured.
