Sabato De Sarno is new creative director of Icicle
Sabato De Sarno is the new creative director of Icicle. “In this role, Sabato De Sarno will oversee the artistic direction of Icicle for the women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, accessories and eyewear. His first collection for Icicle will be presented for autumn/winter 2027-2028,” the company explained via its Instagram account.
“I have always been fascinated by design beyond the final product: from the origins of the raw materials to the craftsmanship that shapes them. I was drawn to Icicle because of the deep harmony between its principles and my creative philosophy. The harmony between man and nature is an idea that Icicle has been exploring for almost 30 years, and I feel it is more relevant today than ever. I am grateful to Mr Ye (Ye Shouzeng, CEO and co-founder of the brand, ed.) for his trust as we begin to write this chapter together with the whole team,” Sabato De Sarno said in the post shared via social media.
Bénédicte Laloux, who has played a central role in shaping the creative identity of Icicle's women's ready-to-wear and the Paris Design Studio since 2013, will continue in her role as design director of the women’s show collection, working under the creative direction of Sabato De Sarno.
De Sarno grew up in Naples. He began his career at Prada in 2005
“Since the founding of Icicle in 1997, our ambition has always been to reconnect people with nature through lasting fashion. We believe that this vision can only be realised by uniting creative talent from around the world with the deep cultural roots and industrial strength of Icicle in China. Sabato's arrival marks an important step forward in this direction,” emphasised Ye Shouzeng, CEO and co-founder of the brand.
De Sarno grew up in Naples. He began his career at Prada in 2005, then moved to Dolce & Gabbana, before joining Valentino in 2009. There, he held positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in his appointment as fashion director overseeing the men's and women's collections. In 2023, he joined Gucci as Alessandro Michele's successor.
In February 2025, the Florentine house announced the departure of creative director De Sarno.