United Flags of Fashion features 130 redesigned flags representing all 50 U.S. states, five territories, and Washington, D.C., created for America's 250th anniversary. Presented by Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America with America250 and Rockefeller Center, the free outdoor installation remains on display above The Rink through September 4, 2026. Each participating designer researched the assigned location, drawing on regional history, landscapes, traditions, and cultural identity to reinterpret official state symbols.
More than 18 months in development, the project includes contributions from designers including Ralph Lauren, Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Christopher John Rogers, Donna Karan, Prabal Gurung, Tommy Hilfiger, and Gabriela Hearst. Individual designs range from denim patchwork inspired by California's Gold Rush heritage to monochromatic interpretations of Pennsylvania's crest and typography-driven versions of New York's flag.
The unveiling also featured remarks from Anna Wintour, CFDA chief executive Steven Kolb, and CFDA chairman Thom Browne, alongside a performance of America the Beautiful by Broadway performers Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty.
Image Credit: United Flags of Fashion
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Civic Fashion Installations
- Large-scale public exhibitions blending apparel design with civic symbolism create new platforms for place-based storytelling, tourism engagement, and brand-led cultural participation.
- Heritage Symbol Redesign
- Reinterpreted flags and emblems reveal opportunities for contemporary design studios to refresh historic identities through inclusive, regionally grounded visual systems.
- Anniversary-driven Public Art
- Milestone commemorations are becoming catalysts for temporary outdoor art experiences that merge sponsorship, cultural programming, and destination marketing.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fashion Design
- Designer collaborations around public cultural projects expand fashion’s role beyond commerce into civic expression, institutional partnerships, and collectible visual identity.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- High-profile outdoor installations can transform urban landmarks into seasonal attractions that support visitor traffic, local spending, and experiential travel narratives.
- Arts and Culture
- Cross-sector exhibitions involving museums, media, government, and creative talent point to new models for funding accessible public art at national scale.
