Crayola today unveiled a new 24-pack of crayons, each one a different shade that tries to represent the more than 40 skin tones worldwide. The company hopes this will allow kids to better reflect the way they see themselves and the diverse world around them.
The new Colors of the World crayons were designed with months of research in mind. Not only did Crayola speak to consumers, but it also worked with Victor Casale, a former chief chemist for MAC cosmetics who has more than 30 years of experience in building foundations for varying skin tones. Together, Crayola and Casale used his scientific data in order to build the crayons that represent a spectrum of human faces.
“Growing up, I remember mixing the pink and dark brown crayons to try and make my shade … I know what it’s like to be with a person who has finally found their exact match. They feel included and recognized, and I am hoping every child who uses these crayons and finds their shade will have that feeling,” Casale says.
Gone are the days of finding only “desert sand” or peach skin. The 24 tones of the crayons are named in realistic ways to help kids better identify their own color. Crayola Colors of the World crayons will be available in July in a 24-pack, as well as a 32-pack exclusively at Walmart, which includes four hair colors and four eye colors.
