“A lot has changed since Betsy Ross created one of the first flags in 1776,” Thom Browne noted, “and now, our stories are sewn into the fabric of America, here to stay and serve as a reminder that America is not made up of one voice, it’s made up of all of ours.”
The designer and CFDA Chairman was speaking to designers and industry friends, who came to Pebble Bar at the Rink at Rockefeller Center on Monday evening to celebrate the unveiling of the United Flags of Fashion.
The initiative – by CFDA, Vogue, Rockefeller Center and America250 – honors the 250th anniversary of America, and more than 120 designers were tasked to reimagine the flags of every state and territory. Some were assigned their home state, others were given states they had never lived in.
“They took the task seriously, researching each state’s history, culture, landscape, and people,” CFDA CEO and President Steven Kolb explained. “Some drew inspiration from nature; others considered history, industry, Indigenous cultures, music, and architecture.”
Among the guests were designers such as Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Jasmin Larian Hekmat, Adam and Ryan Goldston, Christopher John Rogers, Stacey Bendet, Willy Chavarria, Todd Snyder, and Selima Salaun, and notables including Chloe Malle, Karlie Kloss, Sophia Bush, Alina Cho, Yao King, Ivy Getty, John Imah, Julie Gilhart, Meredith Duxbury, Morgan Riddle, Sophia Bush, and Tinx.
“No flag raising is complete without [music], and I’m pleased to tell you we have the wonderful, brilliantly talented Tony nominees Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts from Broadway’s “Two Strangers – (Carry a Cake Across New York)” to provide it,” Anna Wintour, Chief Content Officer, Condé Nast, Global Editorial Director, Vogue, said. “As an adopted American, I know that this country is all about embracing newcomers, so of course we must all forgive Sam for being a Brit.”
Appropriately, it included a rendition of “God Bless America” along with a song from the show.
Browne, for his part, called this “a moment to celebrate creativity in America on its 250th anniversary. At a time when it’s never been more urgent to tell important stories, standing here amongst true creatives is and will always be such a privilege.”
We all felt the privilege.
View the flags at Rockefeller Center through September 4th and learn more about the project at uff.cfda.com.
