Sabato De Sarno
Creative director of Icicle (since September 2026); Gucci 2023 to 2025
Sabato De Sarno is an Italian designer who was creative director of Gucci from 2023 to February 2025 and was appointed creative director of the Shanghai-based luxury company Icicle in September 2026. Before Gucci he spent more than a decade at Valentino, rising to fashion director.
| Role | Creative director, Icicle |
|---|---|
| Since | September 2026 |
| Previous role | Creative director, Gucci (2023 to February 2025) |
| Earlier | Valentino, from 2009 (fashion director) |
| Born | 1983, near Naples |
Who is Sabato De Sarno?
Sabato De Sarno, born in 1983 near Naples, is an Italian fashion designer with a background in pattern-making and technical garment construction. He is best known for his period as creative director of Gucci, from 2023 until February 2025. In September 2026 he was appointed creative director of Icicle, the Shanghai-based luxury fashion company, where he oversees men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories and eyewear.
Career
De Sarno began his career at Prada as an assistant patternmaker, then worked at Dolce & Gabbana before joining Valentino in 2009. There he rose to fashion director, overseeing men's and women's ready-to-wear.
- Prada: early career in patternmaking.
- Dolce & Gabbana: head of design for women's knitwear.
- Valentino, from 2009: later fashion director.
- Gucci, January 2023 to February 2025: creative director, succeeding Alessandro Michele; debut collection 'Ancora' shown in Milan in September 2023.
- Icicle, since September 2026: creative director.
Influence on the fashion business
His appointment at Gucci came at a pivotal moment for the Kering group's largest brand, which was seeking a new direction after the maximalist Michele era. De Sarno's approach favoured cleaner, wardrobe-focused collections and a signature deep red, branded 'Ancora'. His departure after roughly two years was part of a wider period of creative turnover at leading luxury houses.
At Icicle he succeeds Bénédicte Laloux, who led the womenswear division from 2019 and continues to work under his direction, according to Modaes. The move is significant as one of the more prominent appointments of a European luxury creative director by a Chinese fashion company. Kering holds a stake in ICCF Group, Icicle's parent company, and the hire is linked to Icicle's international expansion plans.
De Sarno is frequently described as a technically focused designer whose strength lies in pattern-making and in turning sketches into finished garments. That background, built over two decades inside Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, distinguishes him from creative directors who arrived at major houses from stylist or image-making careers.
Why it matters
De Sarno's career traces two important industry patterns: the rapid rotation of creative directors at major houses between 2023 and 2026, and the growing ambition of Chinese brands to compete internationally in the luxury segment. His work at Icicle will be watched as a test of whether a Chinese-owned house can build global luxury appeal under a European creative lead.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Sabato De Sarno?
Sabato De Sarno is an Italian fashion designer who was creative director of Gucci from 2023 to February 2025. Before that he spent more than a decade at Valentino, rising to fashion director.
Where is Sabato De Sarno now?
In September 2026 he was appointed creative director of Icicle, a Shanghai-based luxury fashion company. He oversees men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories and eyewear.