ICICLE NAMES SABATO DE SARNO CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Icicle appoints former Gucci designer Sabato De Sarno as creative director. The Italian designer officially takes the artistic reins of the high-end ready-to-wear brand based in Shanghai. This appointment marks a major strategic turning point for the Chinese label, owned by the ICCF group (China-Paris International Chemical Frontier), which counts French luxury giant Kering among its investors.

A return to the spotlight

Sabato De Sarno makes his grand return to the international fashion scene. The Italian designer had left the helm of Gucci in February 2025, after steering the house toward a pared-down minimalist aesthetic over two years. Before his time at Gucci, he had built a solid reputation within Italy’s leading fashion houses. He notably spent over a decade as Pierpaolo Piccioli’s right-hand man at Valentino, after cutting his teeth at Prada and Dolce & Gabbana.

At Icicle, his responsibilities will be wide-ranging. He will oversee: men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, accessory lines, and eyewear collections.

His highly anticipated first collection for the brand will be presented for the Fall/Winter 2027-2028 season. To support him, Bénédicte Laloux, the house’s longtime designer, will remain design director for the women’s runway collection under his direction.

Where minimalism meets sustainable fashion

Founded in Shanghai in 1997, the Icicle brand has made its name through its “Natural Way” concept. It champions timeless, eco-responsible fashion built around natural, undyed raw materials (wool, silk, cashmere, linen).

Ambitions for international expansion

The ICCF group, which owns Icicle (as well as the French fashion house Carven), is clearly signaling its global ambitions. The brand already counts more than 200 boutiques, mostly in China, but has also successfully established itself in Paris with several stores, including its flagship on Avenue George V. This appointment comes just five months after Kering took a minority stake in the ICCF group, sealing a first-rate financial and strategic partnership.

The arrival of a figure as internationally recognized as Sabato De Sarno confirms Chinese fashion brands’ ambition to gain global visibility and credibility — echoing past collaborations such as Kim Jones with Bosideng or Kris Van Assche at Anta.

FM