Residing in the remote village of Colvale in Goa, designer Wendell Rodricks has successfully managed to remain in the main stream of the fashion industry creating new looks each season, which inspire and influence Indian fashion. The first Indian designer invited to display his garments at the world's largest garment fair in the world at IGEDO, Düsseldorf, the designer has been actively involved in all areas of fashion: lecturing on World Costume History at SNDT University in Mumbai, writing for the country's leading women's magazine FEMINA, Chairman of the courses committee at the Board of Technical Education appointed by the Government of Goa and member of the Industry Advisory Board of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, patron of the Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust, Goa and retailing at the country's best stores including the celebrated Wendell Rodricks Design Space in Panjim.
Wendell Rodricks began his career in fashion after a successful tenure in hotel management. Trained in Los Angeles and Paris, he returned to India in 1988. After a brief span of two years, designing and styling for reputed companies such as Garden Vareli, cosmetic giant Lakme and diamond corporate De Beers, Wendell Rodricks established his own label in 1990. He moved to his ancestral village in Goa in 1993, creating memorable collections each season inspired by many emotions: Tibetan Monasteries, Tribal symbols of Shiva and Vishnu, the Harem at Istanbul, Tattoos of the Lambadi tribe, "Clothing the Soul" and White Light. He has worked with renowned Kathak dancer Daksha Sheth, has been commissioned by Elite supermodels, collaborated with Indian cosmetic leader Lakme to create a collection inspired by lip and nail colours, is the first Indian designer to design the interiors of a bar at the Marriott Resort, Goa and created the internationally-unique VISIONNAIRE collection transferring Braille onto fabric for the visually challenged.
The Wendell Rodricks signature style is unique in India, blending ancient Indian geometry with a relaxed Goan attitude. Using natural Indian fabrics, cut in a linear line, the silhouette is sheer, layered, draped and fluid. Emphasis is on concrete themes, experimental colour combinations, exotic fibre weaves, structural simplicity based on geometric Indian shapes and hand-painted details. The garments are worn by a growing clientele from all walks of life that share a similar minimal spiritual aesthetic.
{{/usCountry}}The Wendell Rodricks signature style is unique in India, blending ancient Indian geometry with a relaxed Goan attitude. Using natural Indian fabrics, cut in a linear line, the silhouette is sheer, layered, draped and fluid. Emphasis is on concrete themes, experimental colour combinations, exotic fibre weaves, structural simplicity based on geometric Indian shapes and hand-painted details. The garments are worn by a growing clientele from all walks of life that share a similar minimal spiritual aesthetic.
{{/usCountry}}Wendell Rodricks has put the tiny Indian state of Goa firmly on the fashion map. He is presently researching the history of Goan costume as part of a programme that has involved interning at the National Costume Museum in Lisbon and the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. The designer aspires to open a museum in Goa based on this research, to document and exhibit this undocumented facet of Goan culture.
In addition to his 2 flagship stores in Goa : Wendell Rodricks Design Space & Wendell Rodricks Made in Goa, Wendell also retails at : Casa Goa (Calangute), Manthan (Benaulim), Ensemble (Mumbai & New Delhi), Ogaan (New Delhi), Cinnamon - (Bangalore and Kochi), Raintree (Bangalore), Elahe (Hyderabad), Elan (Ahmedabad), Little India and Zenon (Kolkata), Designer Store (Chandigarh), You (Mumbai), Be: Stores nationwide. International, Wendell Rodricks is available at Saaya (Tokyo), Satoosh (Miami Beach, USA).
'OCEANIA' Collection
Imagine the untouched people of the world's islands. They adorn themselves with nature, decorate their bodies with tattoos, use modern metal objects as unique accessories. Imagine that these people were given free reign in a designer studio. What fabric would they choose? How would they drape garments? What accessories would they invent?
Wendell Rodricks goes to the islands to discover a new fashion statement bringing the remote to the present; the universitality of the international seas to the LIFW 2005 ramp. This is a new Rodricks........ venturing into new fabrics and island prints but retaining the resort flavour he is known for. Wendell Rodricks uses print and knitwear for the first time ever. Here is a collection that speaks of modernity, minimalism and tribal influence on modern life. Mixing classic garments from the Western world and new Indian-inspired cuts, 'Oceania' brings together Indian tribes that travelled the ancient sea routes and updates them with a new fashion language. Colours of the sea blend with rustic tattoos. Jersey mutates with crisp linens and liquid silk. Sheer layers meet opaque silhouettes. 'Oceania' is a result of a year's study of the ocean tribes that began in a travelling exhibition in Montreal and is now on the Lakme India Fashion Week ramp by Wendell Rodricks.