# What red means in branding

> What red means in branding, a short history of the colour and brands known for it, with sources. Open it in a free palette tool.

Web page: https://davidewins.com/colours/red

Swatch: #e0312b

Surveys in Europe and the United States link red with heat, activity, passion, sexuality, anger, love and joy. As the colour of blood it has long stood for sacrifice, danger and courage. In China, India and many other Asian countries it stands for happiness and good fortune.

Survey words: heat, activity, passion, anger, love, joy.

[Build a palette from red](https://davidewins.com/colours?base=e0312b)

## History

- Red ochre was one of the first pigments used in prehistoric art.
- Roman generals had their bodies coloured red to celebrate victories.
- Renaissance nobility wore reds dyed with kermes and cochineal. The first synthetic red dyes arrived in the 19th century.

## Brands known for red

- **Ferrari**: The works team has always raced in red, following rosso corsa, Italy's motor racing colour. ([Wikipedia: Rosso corsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosso_corsa))
- **Christian Louboutin**: The red sole is protected as a trademark in several countries. ([Wikipedia: Christian Louboutin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Louboutin))

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Red](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red)
- [Wikipedia: Rosso corsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosso_corsa)
- [Wikipedia: Christian Louboutin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Louboutin)

The swatch is my own pick of red, not an official value.