Sabato De Sarno, a Neapolitan designer, has been named the new creative director of Icicle, a Chinese brand with headquarters in Shanghai and Paris that is noted for its minimalist esthetic. De Sarno will be in charge of the creative direction of ready-to-wear for men and women, as well as accessories and eyewear. His debut collection for Icicle will be released in Fall/Winter 2027-28. De Sarno was the design director of Gucci, Kering's main brand, for two years, until February 2025. He then curated various art exhibitions, including photography and design. De Sarno formerly worked at Valentino for more than a decade, where he collaborated closely with Pierpaolo Piccioli. Icicle is a member of the ICFC Group, which also owns the Carven fashion label. Kering is also one of the group's minority investors. "Our investment in Icicle is also about feeling more at home in China, and having friends there who can help us understand what's happening, opening the doors to the Chinese ecosystem", Kering CEO Luca de Meo explained during the French giant's Capital Markets Day in April.