Chen Wei’s career has been anything but ordinary — from law school to co-founding a startup, and now driving innovation in the corporate world. Through every chapter, one principle has guided him: clarity. It’s a value that extends beyond his work into his personal style — simple, timeless, and always authentic.
For this Carnet feature, Chen Wei chose a gentle sheep print from the Narciso Cotton range, adding a quiet touch of playfulness to his classic wardrobe. It’s a subtle reflection of his creative spirit — proof that innovation often lies in the smallest details. Thoughtful, driven, and effortlessly composed, Chen Wei shows how simplicity, when done right, can speak volumes. Read on as Chen Wei shares how his journey has shaped his philosophy on innovation, authenticity, and the power of understated design.
You’ve had quite a varied journey — from law school to co-founding a startup, and now leading Product Management and Innovation at a top management consulting firm. What do you think ties these chapters of your career together? And what’s one lesson that’s stayed with you through all these transitions?
Throughout my career, I’ve always been passionate about creating value and achieved great satisfaction whenever I see the products I’ve built in their hands. Over time, I’ve also gained a strong interest in technology and always looked for opportunities to leverage technology to provide great user experiences.
Working in innovation means constantly finding better ways to do things. Has that shaped how you think about personal style or how you present yourself?
On the contrary, my personal style is fairly traditional. I’ve always appreciated simple elegance, good fit and colors that bring out my authentic self.
Your wardrobe is classic and understated. What draws you to that simplicity — and what do you think it says about you?
I believe that great design is clarity. Just like in innovative product design, simple and intuitive features are often sufficient to deliver high quality experiences and exceed expectations.
You typically lean toward solids and clean, minimal fabrics, yet for this piece you chose a gentle print from Carnet’s collection. What made this one stand out to you?
While I do lean towards solids and a clean look in general, I also do appreciate subtle details. Details are what elevates the good to great. This Carnet print stood out to me because of its subtle quirkiness that mirrors those innovative moments when I’m thinking outside of the box.
Between your time as a co-founder and now as a senior manager, do you think your style has evolved along with your career?
Yes definitely. My style has naturally been influenced by the work that I do, and how I want to portray myself to colleagues and partners. As a startup founder, I wanted to portray myself as trendy and dynamic, but in corporate I need to balance the formality with the edginess - unconventional conformity - to instill confidence in my capabilities as an adviser while pushing the thinking on new topics.
Outside of work, are there any hobbies or passions that might surprise people — something that shows a different side of you?
I am a firm believer in the mantra “healthy body, health mind” so that I can be at peak performance at work and at home. I’ve been active in the Masters swimming community since I started working and have participated in the World Masters Swimming Championships in Japan and recently in Singapore. I find swimming meditative, and the perfect way to unwind my mind after a long day at work.
You often wind down at the pub, what’s your go-to drink,
and who do you usually catch up with there?
My go-to drink would be the classic Old Fashioned cocktail, although lately i’ve been into red wines and Lychee Martinis with a vodka base. I’m usually with colleagues or ex-colleagues who I’ve grown close to.
You work closely with your consultant, Ruys. What’s that dynamic like — has he influenced the way you approach your wardrobe or encouraged you to try something new?
Right from the start, Ruys understood my style and likes instantly. He is very patient and always gave great recommendations which made the shirt customization process fun and efficient. Sometimes, he would push my boundaries for example recommending a flower print inner lining, but the recommendation is always right and I enjoyed wearing all the shirts - in particular the subtle detail that made my shirt unique
Do you remember your first tailored garment with CYC? What was it, and what drew you to custom tailoring over ready-to-wear?
I had just graduated from Law school and was getting ready to start my traineeship at Drew & Napier. I made 4 shirts - solid white, white with purple lines, solid blue and solid pink, all with stylish inner linings and the PCW embroidery on the cuff. I wanted to make a great first impression to my new bosses that I was mature and could play the part of a sharp corporate lawyer (inspired by Suits). I also wanted to be comfortable as I knew that I’d be spending many hours in those shirts which proved to be very true.
If you could design something with CYC that works perfectly for both work and weekends, what would it be?
Actually I believe that I done that for myself already - it’s a simple short sleeved white shirt that could pair with a jacket and also with bermudas. I believe I’ve actually made at least 3 of such shirts. One of the shirts even had a fun Avengers logo on the left chest area.
Finally, you’ve experienced both entrepreneurship and corporate leadership. Do you see any parallels between building a business and building a personal wardrobe?
For both, personal branding is key. It’s important to me to be genuine and authentic with myself and the people I work with, and I see my wardrobe as an extension of that a reflection of who I am and what I stand for.
Where Timeless Style Meets Personal Expression
Chen Wei’s wardrobe tells a story of effortless sophistication — rooted in tradition but never afraid of a creative twist. His Carnet Narciso Cotton shirt, with its subtle sheep print, is a perfect reflection of how he approaches both work and life: thoughtful, confident, and quietly bold. It’s a reminder that personal style, like innovation, lies in the details that make a statement without shouting.
Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest statement — a subtle print, a carefully chosen fabric, a cut that fits just right. These are the pieces that quietly express who you are, without ever trying too hard. Book an appointment and explore Carnet to create wardrobe pieces that reflect your personality, your lifestyle, and the story you want to tell.