Wendell Rodricks, the famous Goan fashion designer – the “The Guru of Minimalism” – enchanted the twentieth episode of An Author’s Afternoon organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with t2 and Siyahi on 13th of January, 2015, at The Taj Bengal. The series being sponsored by Shree Cement Ltd.
Another big name from the world of high fashion designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh engaged him in a conversation that connected many dots, the highs and lows, of Wendell’s life and career. The versatile talent, who has mesmerized the world of high fashion in India with his trend-setting designs, revealed his flair for writing.
Wendell, rated among one of the top Indian fashion designers, came to the limelight through his innovation of ethnic Maharaja styles of gorgeous brocade-embroideries; blending spiritual concepts to fashionable Indian outfits and so on.
Wendell is acclaimed the first Indian designer to be invited to IGEDO (Worlds’ largest garment fair) in Germany (1995); to launch Dubai Fashion Week (2001); Malaysia Fashion Week (2002). He played a major role in planning the first ever Lakme India Fashion Week in 2000.
Wendell pursued his fashion studies from USA and France in 1986-88. Gradually, he embarked on a new venture to write when cartoonist Mario Miranda asked him to put his views about Goan clothing. Wendell took the first step by trying to revive kunbi saree with natural dye. He invested ten years of his life to research ‘Goan’ costume and finally presented his first creation Moda Goa in January 2012 which revealed the forgotten history of rich Goan costumes.
The same year he released his biography named The Green Room. Responding to Amitava Ghosh’s invitation he joined the Goa Writers Group and shared his views about the journey from Paris to Goa. Later, he joined ‘Marg’ and wrote for many other magazines, coffee table books and anthologies.
In 2014, he was awarded Padma Shri and honoured by All India Konkani Parishad with Rainbow Warrior Award and was also conferred the distinction of Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France.
