Sabato De Sarno has been appointed Creative Director of ICICLE, opening a new chapter for both the Italian designer and the Shanghai-founded luxury brand.
De Sarno will lead the creative direction of ICICLE across women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories and eyewear. His first collection is expected for the Autumn/Winter 2027–2028 season.
The appointment comes after a career that has taken De Sarno through some of Italy’s most important fashion houses, including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, before his most recent role as Creative Director of Gucci.
A New Direction After Gucci
De Sarno’s move to ICICLE is particularly interesting because it represents a shift away from one of the world’s largest luxury houses towards a brand with a different stage of development.
ICICLE was founded in Shanghai in 1997 and has built its identity around natural materials, quality craftsmanship and understated design. The brand operates between China and Europe, with an international presence that has continued to develop in recent years.
For De Sarno, the role offers an opportunity to shape a brand at a significant moment in its evolution.
Bringing Different Fashion Cultures Together
The appointment also brings together two different traditions in contemporary fashion.
De Sarno comes from the world of Italian luxury, where craftsmanship, design heritage and ready-to-wear development have shaped his career. ICICLE represents a new generation of Chinese-founded luxury brands seeking to build an international identity.
The question now will be how these two perspectives come together.
ICICLE already has a defined aesthetic based on simplicity and natural materials. De Sarno’s role will not simply be to introduce Italian fashion into the brand, but to develop its existing identity for a wider global audience.
What Happens Next
The industry will now be watching his first collection for ICICLE.
Creative director appointments often receive immediate attention, but the real impact is usually seen on the runway. The Autumn/Winter 2027–2028 collection will provide the first clear view of how De Sarno interprets ICICLE’s identity.
The Bigger Picture
This appointment is also part of a wider shift in luxury fashion. Chinese-founded brands are increasingly looking beyond their domestic markets and building stronger international creative structures.
The appointment of a designer with De Sarno’s experience shows that the global luxury industry is becoming less centred around traditional European fashion houses.
The BSK Take
Sabato De Sarno’s move to ICICLE is not simply another creative director appointment. It represents a meeting between established Italian luxury experience and the growing global ambition of a Chinese-founded fashion brand.
The first real answer will come with the collection.
