Honoring Florida Through Design: Christian Roth & Eric Domège Reimagine the Sunshine State Flag for America250
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When the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)—the nation's leading organization representing America's foremost fashion designers and Vogue, the world's leading fashion authority, invited a select group of designers to reinterpret the flags of all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. for the America250 celebration, Christian Roth and Eric Domège were chosen to represent Florida.
Image by Eduardo Ford
The initiative, United Flags of Fashion, transforms one of America's most recognizable symbols into a celebration of creativity, culture, and identity. Created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, the project brings together distinguished American designers to reimagine state and territorial flags through the lens of contemporary design. The complete collection will be unveiled at Rockefeller Center in New York on July 27, 2026, where the installation will remain on display until September 4, 2026.
Image by by Dave Krugman for CFDA
The invitation carries particular significance for Roth, who became the first eyewear designer admitted to the CFDA in 1990, helping establish eyewear as an integral part of American fashion design. For more than four decades, Roth and Domège have earned international recognition for redefining luxury eyewear through a distinctive combination of innovation, craftsmanship, and artistic expression. Today, the longtime Florida residents divide their time between Miami and Naples, making their selection to represent the Sunshine State both professionally meaningful and personally fitting.
Rather than simply redesigning the Florida flag, Roth and Domège set out to express the state's unique character through a contemporary visual language.
"Our goal was to create a flag that respects Florida's heritage while reflecting the creativity, vitality, and cultural richness that define the state today," the designers explain.
The familiar red saltire evolves into refined, fluid, aerodynamic bands inspired by movement, light, and the dynamic energy that characterizes Florida. Echoes of Op Art introduce rhythm and graphic sophistication, while watercolor elements soften the composition, reflecting the state's atmosphere, coastline, and luminous natural environment. The redesigned State Seal preserves its historic inscription while presenting a fresh interpretation of one of Florida's most recognizable emblems.
Image by Christian Roth & Eric Domege
Throughout the composition, symbolism unfolds naturally. The sea, sky, sunlight, and horizon evoke Florida's expansive landscapes and coastal identity. A lifeguard tower represents community, protection, and the state's celebrated beach culture. The Seminole woman honors Florida's Indigenous heritage while expressing its welcoming spirit. In a subtle nod to the designers' more than forty years of innovation in eyewear, she is depicted wearing sunglasses – a discreet signature connecting the artwork to their creative legacy.
The project carries particular significance for Roth, who became a naturalized American citizen last year. While the invitation recognizes more than four decades of contributions to American fashion and design, it also marks a deeply personal milestone.
"I am grateful to be part of this moment," says Roth. "As a proud new American citizen, this anniversary is especially meaningful to me. It celebrates the ideals upon which the nation was founded, America's cultural mosaic, its spirit of innovation and resilience, and the role of design in connecting past, present, and future."
For Roth and Domège, the commission became an opportunity not only to celebrate Florida, but also to contribute their creative vision to a national story at a defining moment in American history.
Image by Christian Roth & Eric Domege
Founded in New York City in 1983, Roth and Domège's OPTICAL AFFAIRS® and later the Christian Roth Eyewear brand helped redefine luxury eyewear, influencing generations of designers and earning a place in museum collections around the world. Their work has been worn by artists, musicians, actors, and cultural icons, and continues to bridge fashion, art, and industrial design.
Presented at one of New York City's most iconic landmarks, United Flags of Fashion celebrates not only the nation's 250th anniversary but also the power of design to tell uniquely American stories. Through Roth and Domège's thoughtful reinterpretation, Florida emerges as a place where heritage meets innovation, natural beauty inspires creativity, and diverse cultures converge to shape an optimistic vision of the future.
As America prepares to celebrate its semi-quincentennial, the reimagined Florida state flag stands as both a tribute to the state's history and a symbol of the horizons still ahead.
