History of the Colour Purple: From an Accidental Discovery to a Symbol of Power

The Teen Who Accidentally Invented Purple

In 1856, 18 year old chemist William Henry Perkin was attempting to synthesise a treatment for malaria when he stumbled upon something entirely unexpected, a vivid purple dye, later called mauveine. 

This accidental discovery became the world’s first synthetic purple pigment, sparking a revolution in textiles, art and industrial chemistry. Suddenly, purple, once one of the rarest and most expensive colours was accessible to artists, designers and consumers alike.

Purple in Victorian Mourning

In Victorian society, clothing was more than fashion, it was a language of social codes. Following the death of a loved one, people wore black for extended periods to signal mourning. As grief softened, lilac emerged as the colour of “half-mourning” a gentle, hopeful hue that indicated transition back into everyday life.

Over time, lilac came to symbolize memory, grace and healing, linking colour not just to aesthetic beauty but to emotional expression. Artists and designers embraced these tones, using them to convey subtlety, warmth and sentiment in both art and fashion.

Symbolism and Social Change

Purple’s significance extended beyond art and fashion. When the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was founded in the UK in the early 1900s, its leaders selected purple, white and green as the movement’s official colours. 

Purple represented dignity and loyalty, reflecting the courage and perseverance of women campaigning for the right to vote.

These colours weren’t only symbolic, they were strategic. They appeared on sashes, badges, jewellery, posters and banners, creating a recognisable visual identity for the suffrage movement and cementing purple’s association with empowerment and social change.