Vogue Presents ‘United Flags of Fashion’ With Top Designers For All 50 States

By Mikelle Leow, 29 Jul 2026

For America’s 250th anniversary, Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have handed the nation’s stars and stripes to some of the country’s biggest names in fashion, giving state and territorial symbols a fresh cut.

Titled United Flags of Fashion, the installation features 130 redesigned flags representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. Created with America250 and Rockefeller Center, the display is flying above The Rink through September 4, 2026, offering a free public showcase of fashion, identity, and regional history.

American fashion on display. ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸
In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, @VeraWang designed the New York flag for United Flags of Fashion, an installation presented by @CFDA, @voguemagazine, @rockcenternyc, and America250. On view now at Rockefeller Center through September… pic.twitter.com/AjFpScZLB0
— WHP Global (@WHPGlobal) July 28, 2026

The participant list spans several generations of American design, with contributions from Ralph Lauren, Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Christopher John Rogers, Gabriela Hearst, Donna Karan, Altuzarra, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Prabal Gurung, and many others. Rather than simply redrawing familiar emblems, the designers researched the places they were assigned and used local stories, landscapes, traditions, and personal memories as starting points.

California — Zac Posen for GapStudio

Zac Posen reconstructs California’s Bear Flag in denim, combining indigo patches and contrasting washes to produce a quilted effect. The layered design reflects the state’s mix of landscapes, communities, and cultural influences, while tracing denim’s journey from Gold Rush-era workwear to an enduring expression of American individuality. It also acknowledges California’s longstanding ties to the history of Gap Inc.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

Some of the flags lean into autobiography. Cynthia Rowley, who grew up in Illinois, referenced both Chicago and the state’s rural character, while also incorporating a penny as a nod to Abraham Lincoln. KHIRY founder Jameel Mohammed approached Illinois from another angle, naming his design Free and Fighting in recognition of the state’s entry into the Union as a free state.

Elsewhere, John Bartlett drew on Wyoming’s Indigenous heritage and its association with the American bison. Bernard James looked to New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” motto, while Public School founders Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne took a looser approach to Tennessee, replacing its three stars with one enlarged star and shifting the design away from its usual red palette.

Colorado — Ralph Lauren for Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren depicts Colorado in shades of rich indigo and ivory, balancing the state’s rugged terrain with the romance of the American West. A solitary rider, grazing cattle, mountain peaks, and a ranch house inspired by the designer’s own property fill the scene, while an enlarged “C” and sun reference the official state flag. A paisley frame evokes well-worn bandanas and handmade Western textiles.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

The project was more than 18 months in development, according to Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s global chief content officer. At the unveiling, she described the installation as a tribute to the country’s anniversary, while CFDA chief executive Steven Kolb said the designers had been encouraged to examine the histories and identities behind each location before creating their work.

Connecticut — Diane von Furstenberg for Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg gives Connecticut’s flag a lively, mixed-print treatment filled with playful imagery. The composition draws from the state motto, its early colonists, and the three grapevines associated with its original settlements. Trees, animals, flowers, and fruit further highlight Connecticut’s natural surroundings, while symbols of affection add warmth to the design.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

CFDA chairman Thom Browne framed the collection as a reflection of American creativity, diversity, and individuality. The launch also featured Broadway performers Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty singing America the Beautiful.

250 years later, it seems there is still plenty of room to stitch in a new point of view. See the entire archive here.

Delaware — Prabal Gurung for Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung places a glowing gold diamond at the center of a dark navy background, with delicate beams radiating toward the edges. The restrained composition uses the diamond as a symbol of strength, hope, and possibility. Its outward-reaching light suggests that meaningful progress depends on people working together with a common purpose.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

Georgia — Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera

Wes Gordon builds his Georgia flag around the magnolia, connecting an emblem of the state with his own childhood in Atlanta. Surrounded by the words “Sapientia, Justitia, Temperantia,” the flower represents beauty, resilience, and hope. The design also draws on Carolina Herrera’s floral vocabulary, pairing Georgia’s character with the label’s polished and romantic sensibility.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

Nevada — Stuart Vevers for Coach

Stuart Vevers looks to 19th-century patchwork quilting for a Nevada flag that blends traditional American craft with unexpected local references. Wild horses, stories of UFO sightings, and floral motifs from the Coach archive appear throughout the composition. A line from Nevada’s official state song, *Way Out in the Land of the Setting Sun*, adds another layer of history, humor, and regional storytelling.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

New Jersey — Narciso Rodriguez for Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez updates New Jersey’s existing flag through brighter colors and a cleaner contemporary approach. While retaining the original design’s symbolism, his interpretation places greater focus on harmony, equality, beauty, and optimism. It also recognizes the multicultural communities that continue to influence the state’s identity and direction.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

New York — Calvin Klein for Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein strips the New York State flag back to a minimalist composition shaped by strong typography. The design translates a historic emblem into a sharper expression of present-day New York culture, preserving its symbolic roots while giving them a more direct visual language. The result reflects the state’s resilience, energy, and cultural reach.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

New York — Michael Kors for Michael Kors

Michael Kors condenses New York’s varied geography into a crisp arrangement of skyline, water, mountains, and sunlight. Using shades taken from the official state flag, the design moves between the pace of New York City and the quieter scenery of the Adirondacks, Montauk, and Lake Placid. It presents the state as a meeting point between urban life and expansive natural landscapes.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

New York — Tommy Hilfiger for Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger frames New York’s historic seal with broad horizontal bands in the brand’s familiar red, white, and blue palette. The composition draws from nautical signal flags and the upbeat associations of sailing culture, bringing a contemporary American sportswear look to the traditional emblem. It reflects the ambition and sense of possibility linked to both New York and the label.

Image via United Flags of Fashion / CFDA

New York — Vera Wang for Vera Wang

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Vera Wang’s interpretation reflects the refinement, sensuality, elegance, and modern outlook associated with her work. It also serves as a personal tribute to New York, her hometown, and to the city’s ability to welcome people from different places with openness, dignity, and respect.

Pennsylvania — Thom Browne for Thom Browne New York