Sabato De Sarno

Sabato De Sarno is an Italian fashion designer whose career developed through the studios of major houses before he became creative director of Gucci. His work places material and construction at the center of the garment, with a preference for direct shapes. In September 2026, he was appointed creative director of Icicle, overseeing men’s and women’s ready-to-wear as well as accessories and eyewear.

Born near Naples in 1983, De Sarno began at Prada in 2003 before moving to Dolce & Gabbana. He joined Valentino in 2009, building a career there across more than a decade and eventually becoming fashion director for men’s and women’s collections. Those years gave him experience of developing a house’s wardrobe from inside the design team, before the wider public knew his name.

Gucci announced his appointment in January 2023. His first women’s collection, presented that September as Gucci Ancora, introduced a more reduced wardrobe and a deep red that became a recurring signature. Menswear followed in January 2024, extending the approach through relaxed tailoring. The tenure ended in February 2025, when Gucci announced that its studio would complete the next collection.

Speaking to CNN in April 2026, De Sarno discussed his continuing interest in how things are made, alongside projects connecting fashion with art and his hometown. His subsequent Icicle appointment statement returned to the origins of raw materials and the knowledge that transforms them. With a first collection announced for fall-winter 2027-28, the role places that concern inside a house identified with natural fibers and long-term wear.