Kering, the French luxury conglomerate behind Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta, has taken a minority stake in ICCF Group, the parent company of Shanghai founded luxury brand ICICLE, marking one of the group’s most significant strategic bets on a non-Western luxury label to date.
The deal was announced on April 16, 2026, as part of Kering‘s newly launched “House of Wonders” initiative, a vehicle designed to identify and support emerging luxury brands with long term global potential. said the group, “This partnership brings together ICCF’s deep understanding of the Chinese luxury ecosystem and cultural landscape with Kering’s long-standing expertise in craftsmanship, operations, and brand development in Europe.”
A Brand Built on Eastern Philosophy
ICICLE was founded in 1997 in Shanghai and has grown into one of China‘s most respected luxury fashion houses. The brand is known for a quiet, refined aesthetic rooted in Eastern philosophy and a strong commitment…
to natural materials and considered craftsmanship. It specializes in women’s and men’s ready to wear and accessories, and today operates more than 200 stores globally, including flagship locations in Beijing, Shanghai, and Paris.
ICCF Group, which stands for Icicle Carven China France, is a vertically integrated, high-end fashion group. ICICLE is its flagship brand, and the partnership with Kering represents a pivotal chapter in the label’s journey from a domestic Chinese luxury name to a globally recognized house.
What Kering’s Investment Means for ICICLE Kering‘s capital will directly fund ICICLE‘s next phase of international expansion, as well as the development of new product categories, including leather goods and accessories, areas where the brand currently has a nascent but growing offering.
The deal is structured as a strategic partnership rather than a full acquisition, a deliberate choice that allows Kering to bring its operational and brand building expertise to the table while preserving ICCF‘s cultural independence and local knowledge…
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