The IFM Foundation Welcomes Two New Patrons

The Foundation of the Institut Français de la Mode is pleased to announce two new patrons: Groupe SEB and ICICLE. These partnerships mark a shared commitment to supporting emerging designers, managers and craftspeople.

Both will back the Foundation's social scholarship programme, helping more students access the school regardless of financial means. Just as importantly, each collaboration creates space for students to engage directly with major players in their fields — around innovation, design, changing consumer habits, and how value gets created in creative business.

ICICLE

The partnership was formalised on June 3, 2026, by the signature of Shouzeng Ye, ICICLE's Founder and CEO. Founded in Shanghai in 1997, ICICLE has carved out a distinctive place in contemporary fashion, guided by a philosophy of harmony between people and nature. That thinking translates through the clothes themselves, made of natural materials via exacting craftsmanship, and a spare, warm aesthetic the house dubs "gentle minimalism."

Groupe SEB

"French art de vivre can't just be a heritage. It has to be a living, moving thing." That conviction sits at the heart of Groupe SEB's new patronage partnership with the IFM Foundation, celebrated on June 17, 2026 on IFM’s campus. The commitment goes beyond funding scholarships. It opens an ongoing conversation between SEB's teams and IFM's students on innovation, design, evolving usages and value creation.

The IFM Foundation thanks the teams at Groupe SEB and ICICLE for their support. These two new partners join the ranks of 35 existing members of the IFM Foundation, listed here: