Zhao Jinmai named global ambassador for French label Iro

Chinese actress Zhao Jinmai is the new global brand ambassador for Iro, the French fashion brand.

Iro announced the appointment on 16 September. Zhao becomes its public face worldwide — a global brand ambassador, the representative who fronts advertising and appears for the house. She already stars in its fall 2026 campaign, the seasonal set of advertising images, wearing leather looks linked with the label, according to WWD.

Iro said Zhao's strength and ease embody "a natural, contemporary expression of the Iro spirit." Zhao said she is delighted to become the brand's global ambassador.

That is a brief statement. It is also precise. Leather sits at the centre of Iro's offer. Zhao wears it in the first pictures released for the partnership.

Iro was founded in 2005 by Arik Bitton and Laurent Bitton. It is now owned by Ellassay, the Shenzhen-based fashion group that bought the label and oversees its development.

Zhao brings a large following to the role. She has more than 21 million followers across major Chinese social media platforms. That reach is organised around acting work and a growing list of fashion contracts.

She holds endorsement deals with Miu Miu, the Italian fashion label, Guerlain, the French beauty house, Rimowa, the German luggage maker, and Charles & Keith, the footwear and accessories brand. Each contract puts her image to work in a different category, from clothing to cosmetics to travel goods.

What makes this stand out is the pace of those signings. On 22 July 2026, Charles & Keith named Zhao as its newest brand ambassador, according to the Charles & Keith Group. Less than two months later, Iro has confirmed her for its own worldwide role.

For fans, this means more Zhao in shop windows and on feeds through the autumn season. For Iro, it means a recognisable actor carries its leather story into its next campaign.