When you think of Godrej, you think of steel cupboards, pushing the handle down to open, a mirror on one side, a safe inside, and a coterie of clothes and other knick-knacks. For years, these cupboards and even other steel storage equipment were painted in an iconic olive-green colour. In 1945, an official change was made to this feature when it became difficult to procure high-quality olive-green paint in large quantities for manufacturing of products. Hence, this document dated 2nd June 1945, was circulated informing the change in decision to all branches, agencies and showrooms. A note was addressed that henceforth a ‘special grey’ colour will become the standard for all Storwel cupboards, filing cabinets, card index cabinets, and office furniture.
Owing to the shortage, Godrej decided to turn to special grey colour and not compromising the overall production quality. Such meticulous attention to detail reinforces Godrej’s commitment to excellence, showing that every element of a product, including the colour is thoughtfully chosen to maintain the brand’s visual identity and enhance its quality.
In the later years, a similar change was observed in 1963, requested by Dr. Homi Bhabha for a certain grey for steel furniture at the Tata Atomic Research Centre which came to be known as ‘TA- Grey’. To know more, read our Archive Tales for October 2019.
