Crimson originally came from a reddish-blue dye produced from tiny kermes insects found in Mediterranean regions. The word “crimson” itself traces back to the Old Spanish and Arabic words for the insect. As one of history's most valuable dyes, crimson quickly became synonymous with power and prestige, adorning the robes of royalty and elite members of society. These associations continued into medieval Europe and the Renaissance, when crimson’s brilliant hue transformed the textile industry and became deeply woven into religious iconography and royal ceremonies. With its bright, rich red reminiscent of blood and fire, crimson has long symbolized passion and intense emotion. In modern design, crimson is chosen for the bold impact and drama it adds to luxury brands, spaces, and products.
The technical specifications of crimson define it as a rich red with a slight blue undertone, represented in the hex color system as #DC143C. Its RGB values of R:220, G:20, B:60 are similarly used to achieve a strong red base with the added coolness of blue. The CMYK model uses the values C: 0%, M: 91%, Y: 73%, K: 14% to reproduce crimson's distinctive warmth in physical media.
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