The Secret History Behind Madagascar's Flag

Madagascar's flag mixes two very different histories into one design.

White and red were the colors of the old Merina monarchy, the kingdom that once ruled much of the island from its highland capital. Green speaks for something entirely different: the coastal peoples of Madagascar, whose support was essential to the movement that ultimately won the island's freedom.

Those two histories — a highland monarchy and a coastal independence movement — came together in a single flag on June 26, 1960, the day Madagascar became a newly independent nation — the date printed on every Madagascar design in our catalog.

One flag, two stories, one island nation built from both of them together.

Shop the Madagascar collection → — or explore the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.