Wendell Rodricks was an Indian fashion designer and author. He was also a social activist and fought for the environment and gay rights.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Wendell Rodricks was born on Saturday, 28 May 1960 (age 59 years at the time of death) in Mumbai. His zodiac sign is Gemini.
Childhood photo of Wendell Rodricks with his father
He did his schooling from St. Michael’s High School, Mahim, Mumbai. He graduated in Hotel Management. After his graduation, he joined the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in Muscat city in 1982.
Wendell Rodrigues in Oman
However, he could not continue in this profession and decided to take up fashion designing. She used all her savings from her job in Muscat to study fashion designing in London and Paris from 1986 to 1988. She completed her internships at the National Museum of Costume and Fashion in Lisbon (on the conservation of pre-21st century costumes), and the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City (on modern costumes, under the museum’s director, Valerie Steele). .
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 10″
Eye colour: black
Hair Color: Black
Family, Caste and Wife
He was born in a Catholic family in Goa. His father’s name is Felix Roque Rodrigues and mother’s name is Greta Rodrigues.
Wendell Rodrigues’ father
He was gay and married Jérôme Marel in a civil ceremony in Paris in 2002.
Wendell Rodrigues with his husband
He was the godfather of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora’s son Arhaan Khan.
livelihood
as a fashion designer
She started her career designing for brands like Garden Verelli, Lakme Cosmetics and DeBeers. He launched his own label in 1989 and his first show was held at the Regal Room of the Oberoi Hotel.
wendell rodricks logo
His collection consisted of twelve ensembles with models such as Mehr Jesia, and of all the ensembles only six were complete; Because they did not have enough money to provide the models with shoes or bottoms for their organza tunics. His first collection earned him the title of ‘Guru of Minimalism’. Her next collection was in 1995, which pioneered the concept of ‘resort wear’ and ‘eco-friendly apparel’, which were foreign terms to India at that time. He is the first designer from India to be invited to world shows like IGEDO in Germany (1995), Dubai Fashion Week (2001), Malaysia Fashion Week (2002), the prestigious Paris Prêt-à-Porter Salon (2007) and many more. The largest biological fair, Biofetch (2012) in Nuremberg, Germany. In 2010, she modified the Goan attire of Kunbi sari and presented it at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.
Wendell Rodricks- Revival of Kunbi Saree
His efforts in reviving the dying art were appreciated by Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dikshit and Pratibha Patil (former President of India). In 2016, he announced his retirement from his label and handed it over to his student Shulen Fernandes. He did this in an effort to focus attention on his museum “Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre”.
as a writer
In 1998, Mario Miranda (cartoonist and painter) requested him to write a chapter on Paano Bhaju, the traditional costume worn for Mando performances in Goa. This led him to research the costume in detail. In the process, she interned in Lisbon and New York and learned the Portuguese language to be able to read ancient scripts so she could learn more about costume. Her years of research on the subject were published by HarperCollins in her book “Moda Goa: History and Style” (2012).
In 2012, his autobiography “The Green Room” was published.
In 2017, he published his first fictional work “Poskem: Goans in the Shadows”. The book features illustrations by Mario Miranda.
He wrote for many magazines, coffee table books and anthologies. He wrote about travel and art, and also about food, especially Goan cuisine.
Other work
He played small roles in the film “Boom” (2003) and the television drama “True West” (2002). He also appeared in the film “Fashion” (2008) in his own role. Since 1993, Wendell and her husband had been living in a 450-year-old house in Colwell called Casa Dona Maria. In 2016, he shifted to a smaller house to convert it into a museum. The name of the museum is “Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre”.
Moda Goa Museum and Research Center
He used to write columns for Goa Today on various social issues and environment related issues. In 2012, she raised her voice against IRFW (India Resort Fashion Week), which she said caused harm to the environment. In 2018, she opened a helpline for the LGBTQ+ community with Ruby Almeida, co-chair of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics.
Awards and Honors
- Padmashree in 2014
Wendell Rodricks received Padma Shri
- Chevalier de l’Ordre National des Arts et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture and Communications in 2015
- Awarded by All India Konkani Parishad
Controversy
- In 2020, Wendell criticized Priyanka Chopra for the customized gown by Ralph & Russo that she wore to the Grammys. Wendle was criticized for his comments by people including Priyanka’s mother Madhu Chopra and actress Suchitra Krishnamurthy. After which Wendle issued his statement, in which he wrote,
To all the people who have said some really nasty things about body shaming me, here’s my answer. Did I say anything about her body? No, many women did this. I just said that even though the dress was attractive, it was wrong for her. It was more dress shaming than body shaming. Stop with this sermon from above and read the post before speaking. There is a certain age for wearing certain clothes. Men with heavy stomach should not wear tight T-shirts. Same is the case with women who wear mini after a certain age. If you don’t have it, don’t pretend to have it. I stopped wearing bermudas because I have some varicose veins. Don’t make every issue body shaming, sexist or anything. Or you can be a liar and a fake by resorting to being politically correct and not being truthful. If you don’t like my post then unfriend me.”
- In 2019, he criticized Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s stylists for dressing her like a sack at Paris Fashion Week. She posted a collage of their looks on her social media account and wrote,
@L’Oréal You have one of the most beautiful women in the world and this is how you do her makeup and dress her? “Fire the stylist on this sack gown with a note saying Halloween is next month.”
- In 2018, she uploaded a photo on her Instagram account and accused Payal Khandawala of stealing her technique of pleating clothes. The photo shared by Wendell included his creation and that of Payal, who is also Wendell’s former student. Wendell wrote on his Instagram,
At a time when the fashion industry is grappling with demonetization and GST, it is condemnable when the man who taught, mentored, befriended and ushered in LFW has to resort to such blatant imitation. Sorry… but have been doing this since 1995, with innovation, but now as it affects our business I am forced to stop it.
- In 2016, she exhibited the history of Goan costumes titled “Ten Histories/Goan Costume” at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. However, Dr. Pratima Kamat, professor and head of the history department of Goa University, criticized the exhibition for factual inaccuracies. Pratima further asked the organizers to cover the lesson. Wendell threatened to step down as curator of the exhibition. Finally, the covers were removed, and its text was displayed.
Wendell Rodricks’ exhibition on the history of Goa’s costumes
Address
158, Near Francisco Luis Luis Gomes Garden, Campal, Panjim, 403001
Death
Wendell Rodricks died at his home in Goa on 12 February 2020, at the age of 59. The cause of his death is not certain but it is estimated that he died due to prolonged illness.
Favourite Things
- Cuisine: Indian, French, Chinese, Turkish
- Food: Morning Glory Tempura with Shrimp Dip, Pani Puri, Chorizo Chili Fries with Egg, Roasted Chicken, Mushrooms
- Beverage: Roasted rice flavored green Japanese tea
- Dessert: Orange Cake with Chocolate Chips
- Champagne: Krug & Cristal
- Café: Café de Flore, Paris
- Automobile Brand: Mahindra, BMW
- Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
- Books: “Through the Narrow Gate” by Karen Armstrong and “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Varghese
- Sunglasses: Dior and Tom Ford
- Travel Destination: Mumbai, Istanbul and Paris
Facts/General Knowledge
- He enjoyed travelling, listening to classical Western music and photography.
- While he was working in Oman, he also served former Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said from 1982 to 1986.
- He was part of the Khadi movement and promoted Khadi apparel at Biofetch, the world’s largest organic fair, in Nuremberg, Germany in 2011.
- In 2017, she presented a collection for plus-size women at Lakme Fashion Week.
- When one of her close friends, Lisa Ray, decided to get married, she chose a gown designed by Wendell in 2012.
- She was instrumental in launching the careers of celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma. She launched Anushka Sharma as a model at the Les Vamps show at Lakme Fashion Week in 2007 and also encouraged her to come to Mumbai. She recommended Deepika Padukone (who had been modeling for her for about two years) to Malaika Arora, who recommended her to Farah Khan for Deepika’s debut film “Om Shanti Om” (2007).
Wendell Rodricks with Deepika Padukone on the ramp
- In 2019, he filed a petition against the demolition of a 100-year-old church in Colvale, Goa.
- He first met Jerome Marel when he was working for the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in 1983. A friend of Wendell’s introduced him to Jerome. Wendell credits Marrel for his success as a fashion designer, whom he mentions in his book “The Green Room”.
- He loved cooking and often posted pictures of his dishes on his social media accounts.
- He was an animal lover and had two dogs named Zoe and Zorba and a cat named Freddy.
Wendell Rodrigues with his dogs
- He also had a keen interest in music. He knew how to play the guitar and sang.
- He was very close to veteran Indian actress Rekha and considered her his sister. She also paid tribute to him at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) on the occasion of his 60th birthday in 2014.
wendell rodricks with line
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn