A new era.
Sabato De Sarno is officially entering his next chapter. The Italian designer, who spent more than a decade at Valentino before taking the top job at Gucci in 2023, has been appointed Creative Director of ICICLE. After leaving Gucci in February 2025, De Sarno has been relatively quiet on the fashion front, making his move to the Shanghai- and Paris-based Chinese label an interesting return.
At ICICLE, De Sarno will oversee womenswear and menswear ready-to-wear, accessories and eyewear, with his first collection set to debut for Fall/Winter 2027. The appointment also comes at an interesting moment for the brand, following Kering’s minority investment in ICICLE’s parent group ICCF earlier this year as the company looks to grow its global presence. And for De Sarno, it seems the appeal goes beyond simply joining another big fashion name. “I’ve always been fascinated by design beyond the final product, from the origins of raw materials to the craftsmanship that shapes them,” he said, adding that what drew him to ICICLE was its alignment with his own creative philosophy and its focus on the relationship between humans and nature.
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy from the brand
