A pall of gloom descended over Goa as news trickled on Wednesday evening that global fashion icon and son of the soil Wendell Rodricks passed away after a prolonged battle for life. Goans were in a state of complete shock and disbelief. The flurry of callers to The Goan office had only two questions to ask: When? How?
The catering graduate-turned-fashion czar departs at 59 but leaves behind the sartorial legacy and an indelible footprint in the world of fashion. Wendell’s creative work stretched beyond Bollywood and the Western world. Tutored in Paris, he earned worldwide acclaim for his resort wear and eco-friendly fashion and rubbed shoulders with global fashion giants. However, the constant effort to weave Goan culture into his works was as clear as daylight. The revival of the Kunbi saree worn by tribal women, to be showcased to the world of fashion in a new avatar is a milestone that will be etched in memory forever.
Wendell leaves with one unaccomplished dream which he has been building brick by brick for the past 17 years. It’s his museum of costumes -- Moda Goa Museum, a project showcasing Goan costumes and its fashion artefacts - in his sprawling traditional Goan villa at Colvale. His love for the museum saw Wendell retiring from his label in 2016 which he indulged passionately since 1989.
Wendell was a real fighter in his own way and never allowed rejection or failure bog him down. His mantra of minimalism which was shunned early in the millennium found full acceptance subsequently. At a time when brightly coloured silk and embroidery went hand-in-hand, Wendell gave embroidery the skip and went to town with shades of black, khaki and white. From an asymmetric hem and signature white to layered dualities, Wendell went on to blend magic into styling. The ace designer was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2014 and was also accorded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts Et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2015.
Wendell’s passion for involving in environmental issues and preserving Goa’s identity has been another hallmark. He minced no words when fighting for mother nature. The fashion icon is an author too and has published his autobiography titled The Green Room and another book Moda Goa: History and Style in 2012. His third book was titled Poskem: Goans in the Shadows. Wendell was very vocal about gay rights and was forthright in admitting his sexual orientation at a time when there was a social stigma attached to such a community. He even started a helpline for the LGBTQ.
As the fashion world pauses in silence, the State mourns the loss of its master couturier and an aficionado, a man who gave so much to fashion and Goa. Rest in peace, Wendell.
