Fashion definitely runs in the family for fire protection firm project director Clement Piak
It’s safe to say that style flows through Clement Piak’s veins. His father Jeffrey Piak was the Most Stylish Man at the Singapore Tatler Fashion Awards 2018, mother Emily is a stylish fixture on the society scene, and sister Crystal was profiled for this very column last June. So it was only natural that the 30-year-old would already be on our radar.
Citing Jeffrey as one of the biggest influences in his life, Clement looks to him for both professional and fashion advice. Having grown up seeing his father run fire protection firm, Rico Engineering Works, convinced Clement to join the family business upon graduation. Now he works alongside his father as a project director. This close working relationship has also translated into an admiration for his father’s unpredictable sense of style.
“Initially, my style was very preppy. I would wear suits, ties, pullovers, and the works. I was studying in Europe then on a student exchange programme and naturally was inspired by my environment,” he explains. “But at the same time, my dad started to develop a more daring sense of style and began receiving compliments from his friends. It made me realise that even though my dad is so much older than me, he seemed way cooler and edgier when it came to his dressing. Since young, he’s always had a strong influence in my life so it wasn’t difficult for me to follow in his footsteps.”
Now, Clement describes his style as unconventional, with a streetwear edge. He mixes both streetwear and luxury labels with aplomb, and in his wardrobe you’ll find big-name labels such as Louis Vuitton and Dior Homme, alongside cult favourites such as Rick Owens, Julius, Comme des Garçons, Undercover and Issey Miyake. This is one fashion experimenter who wouldn’t bat an eyelid if you told him to wear a skirt. In fact, he proudly tells us that he has a couple stashed in his wardrobe.
“I like to be different,” he shares. “It’s not just about buying luxury labels. It’s about the ability to look at different cuts and silhouettes to create an interesting outfit. That’s why I like what Virgil Abloh is doing for Louis Vuitton. He thinks about details such as adding a pocket to the sleeve of a shirt or pairing a leather harness with a suit. Look at the translucent plastic Keepall bag he’s created. Louis Vuitton would never do something like that in the past. He takes a casual approach to luxury fashion and I prefer that a lot more now.”
While Clement’s sense of style is firmly rooted in the future, there’s still a part of him that’s interested in the past. “I do think that everyone should invest in a watch. Even if your phone can tell the time, a watch is still essential. To me, a watch carries significance, and even though technology has advanced so much, it’s a piece of accessory that reminds me of simpler times.”
