Explore Global Colors

Inca Red comes from Andean cochineal and red earth. The Inca Empire was the largest pre-Columbian empire; its vivid red textiles astonished Spanish conquerors. The Inca cultivated cochineal-bearing cacti in dry Andean valleys. Wild cochineal cacti still grow in the Cusco Valley near Machu Picchu.

Andes Green comes from Andean emeralds and malachite. The Inca considered green the color of life—Andean green valleys were the Inca civilization's granary. The Inca developed complex terrace agriculture at 3,000m altitude. Machu Picchu's surrounding emerald mountains, perpetually shrouded in mist, are called the "City in the Clouds."

Amazon Green evokes the planet's largest tropical rainforest. With roughly 10% of Earth's species, its layered canopy creates a green ocean that symbolizes Brazil's ecological identity.

Brazilian Yellow appears with green on the national flag, drawn from the family colors of Empress Maria Leopoldina. Its yellow rhombus holds a blue celestial globe, symbolizing order and progress, and becomes a byword for Brazilian passion during Carnival and the World Cup.

Every February Rio's Sambódromo becomes a torrent of color, and Carnival Red is among the most arresting hues. Samba schools build massive floats with sequins and feathers; red signifies passion, blood, and vitality.

The Pampas is Argentina's breadbasket and the home of the gaucho. At sunset its endless grass turns warm gold, with horses and ranches silhouetted against South America's vastest poetry. The color also appears on Argentina's away football kits.

In southern Argentina, Perito Moreno Glacier calves into lakes whose suspended rock flour creates a dreamlike blue. The hue is cold and clear, like the breath of the end of the world. The outdoor brand Patagonia takes its name from this land.