Some time ago, my office had an office manager that agreed to buy only manila color folders. In government, there is a reason for everything and price was the determining factor this time. Manila folders were two cents cheaper than a 4-color version. These folders also encapsulate the government’s mindset of scarcity. 

Manila is a color that you can’t really describe, it is very neutral, simplistic, light but not white. It is handy for labeling, crossing of old labels and sticking a new name for the faceless folder. If you spill some coffee on it, it leaves a mark, but eventually coffee blends in and you can’t really tell if it was coffee or just dirt accumulated over time. Whoever discovered this color for the office filing systems was a genius. Manila color folders are always available at stores. To me this color is a color of government. Faceless, non-descript, boring. Basically beehhhh.