He will oversee the women’s, men’s and accessories collections of the Chinese-owned brand with a participation from the Kering Group. The debut with F/W 2027
A new chapter opens for Sabato De Sarno. Just over a year and a half after his farewell to Gucci, of which he was creative director from January 2023 to February 2025, the designer returns to the scene at the helm of the Chinese brand ICICLE. It seems that the Kering Group itself suggested its candidacy and in April 2026 bought a share of ICICLE with the aim of trying to combine creative, branding and distribution synergies and above all its European experience with the considerable knowledge of the Chinese market of the ICCF Group, parent company of the ICICLE brand for which important international expansions are therefore expected. «I have always been fascinated by design that goes beyond the finished product, from the origins of the raw materials to the craftsmanship that shapes them», explained the creative in a note, «I was attracted to ICICLE by the profound harmony between its principles and my creative philosophy. The harmony between man and nature is a concept that ICICLE has been exploring for almost thirty years and which today I believe is more relevant than ever. I am grateful to Mr. Ye for trusting me to start writing this chapter together with the whole team.” While waiting to see the first collection that will debut with Autumn/Winter 2027-2028, De Sarno will supervise the creative direction for the women’s and men’s ready-to-wear collections, accessories and eyewear. «Since the founding of ICICLE in 1997, our ambition has always been to reconnect people with nature through lasting fashion», underlined Ye Shouzeng, CEO and Co-founder of the company founded in Shanghai in 1997, «We believe that this vision can only be realized by combining international creative talent with the deep cultural roots and industrial strength of ICICLE in China. Saturday’s arrival marks an important step forward in this direction.” Bénédicte Laloux, who since 2013 has played a central role in defining the creative identity of the ICICLE women’s line and the Paris Design Studio, will maintain the role of Design Director of the women’s fashion show collection, operating under the creative direction of De Sarno. All that remains is to wish Saturday good luck.
