Wendell Rodriquez is an Indian fashion designer and writer. He is also a social activist, fighting for environmental protection and gay rights.
Wiki/Biography
Wendell Rodriquez was born in Mumbai on Saturday, May 28, 1960 (aged 59 at the time of his death). His star sign is Gemini.
Wendell Rodriquez and his father as a child
He attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim, Mumbai. He graduated in Hotel Management. After graduation, he joined the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in Muscat in 1982.
Wendell Rodriquez in Oman
However, he could not continue in the industry and decided to pursue fashion design. From 1986 to 1988, he used all the savings from his work in Muscat to study fashion design in London and Paris. He completed internships at the National Museum of Costume and Fashion in Lisbon (researching the conservation of pre-21st century costumes) and at the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City (researching contemporary costumes, under the guidance of the museum’s director, Valerie Steele).
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 10″
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Black
Family, Caste and Wife
He was born into a Goan Catholic family. His father’s name is Felix Roque Rodricks and mother’s name is Greta Rodricks.
Wendell Rodriquez’s father
He is a homosexual who married Jerome Marrel in a civil ceremony in 2002 in Paris.
Wendell Rodriquez and his husband
He is the godfather of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora’s son Arhaan Khan.
Profession
As a fashion designer
He started his career designing for brands like Garden Vareli, Lakmé Cosmetics and DeBeers. In 1989, he launched his own brand under his own name and his first show was held at the Regal Room of the Oberoi Hotel.
Wendell Rodriquez Logo
His collection consisted of 12 outfits, featuring models like Mehr Jesia, but only 6 of the outfits were complete because he did not have the funds to provide the models with shoes or bottoms for their organza tunics. His first collection earned him the title of “Master of Minimalism”. His next collection, released in 1995, pioneered the concepts of “resort wear” and “eco-wear”, terms that were new to India at the time. He was the first Indian designer to be invited to show at IGEDO in Germany (1995), Dubai Fashion Week (2001), Malaysia Fashion Week (2002), the prestigious Pret-a-Porter salon in Paris (2007) and BioFach in Nuremberg, Germany, the world’s largest organic fair (2012). In 2010, he modified the Goan dress, the Kunbi Sari, and exhibited it at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.
Wendell Rodriquez – The Revival of the Quimby Sari
His efforts to revive this dying craft have been appreciated by Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dixit and Pratibha Patil (former President of India). In 2016, he announced his retirement from his brand and handed it over to his student Shuren Fernandez. He did this to focus on running his museum, the Goa Fashion Museum and Research Centre.
As an author
In 1998, cartoonist and painter Mario Miranda asked him to write a chapter on the Pano Bhaju, the traditional costume worn during the Mandala dance in Goa. This prompted him to conduct a detailed study of the costume. During this time, he interned in Lisbon and New York and learned Portuguese so that he could read ancient texts and learn more about the costume. His research on the subject over the years was published in the book Moda Goa: History and Style (2012) published by Harper Collins.
In 2012, his autobiography, Green Room, was published.
In 2017, he published his first work of fiction, Boskum: A Goan in the Shadows. The book was illustrated by Mario Miranda.
He has contributed to many magazines, coffee table books and anthologies. He writes about travel and art and also about food, especially Goan cuisine.
Other works
He made cameo appearances in the film Boom (2003) and the TV series True West (2002). He also appeared as himself in the film Fashion (2008). Wendell and his husband have lived in a 450-year-old house called Casa Dona Maria in Corval since 1993. In 2016, he moved to a smaller house and converted it into a museum. The museum is called Moda Goa Museum and Research Center.
Moda Goa Museum and Research Center
He has written columns for Goa Today on various social and environmental issues. In 2012, he spoke out against the India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW), which he believed was damaging the environment. In 2018, he started a helpline for the LGBTQ+ community along with Ruby Almeida, co-chair of the Rainbow Catholic Global Network.
Awards and Honors
- Padma Shri Award 2014
Wendell Rodriquez receives Padma Shri
- In 2015, he was awarded the National Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Communications.
- Honored by All India Konkani Panchayat
dispute
- In 2020, Wendell criticized the custom Ralph & Russo gown that Priyanka Chopra wore to the Grammy Awards. Wendell’s comments were criticized by people including Priyanka’s mother Madhu Chopra and actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi. Afterwards, Wendell issued a statement, he wrote:
To those who said nasty things about me being body shaming, here is my rebuttal. Did I say anything about her body? No. Many women have. I just said that although the dress was couture, it was inappropriate for her. This was more body shaming than body shaming. Stop the condescending lecture and read the post before you speak. Some clothes have to have an age limit. Men with big bellies shouldn’t wear tight t-shirts. Same with women over a certain age wearing mini skirts. If you don’t have it, don’t show it off. I don’t wear Bermuda shorts anymore because I have several varicose veins. Don’t turn every issue into body shaming, sexism or whatever. Or you can hypocritically appeal to political correctness instead of telling the truth. If you don’t like my post, just disown me. “
- In 2019, he slammed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s stylist for dressing her like a sack at Paris Fashion Week. He posted a collage of her looks on his social media account and wrote:
@loreal you have one of the most beautiful women in the world and this is how you put makeup and a dress on her? Fire the stylist of this baggy dress and put a note saying Halloween is next month.“
- In 2018, he uploaded a photo on his Instagram account accusing Payal Khandawala of plagiarizing his fabric pleating technique. The photo Wendell shared included his work and the work of Payal, who is also a former student of Wendell. Wendell wrote on his Instagram,
At a time when the fashion industry is reeling from currency devaluation and GST, it is a shame that someone I have taught, mentored, befriended and entered into London Fashion Week would copy so blatantly. I’m sorry… but we have been doing this with innovation since 1995 and I feel compelled to point it out now as it affects our business.
- In 2016, he exhibited a history of Goan costumes titled “Ten Histories/Goan Costumes” at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. However, Dr. Pratima Kamat, professor and head of the history department at Goa University, pointed out that the exhibition contained factual errors. Pratima also asked the organizers to cover the text. Wendell threatened to resign as curator of the exhibition. Finally, the cover was removed and his text was exhibited.
Wendell Rodriquez’s exhibition on the history of Goan costumes
address
158, Near Francisco Loui Louis Gommes Garden, Campal, Banerjee, 403001
die
Wendell Rodriquez died at the age of 59 on February 12, 2020, at his home in Goa. The cause of his death is still uncertain, but it is presumed that he died due to a long-term illness.
Favorite things
- Food: Indian, French, Chinese, Ottoman
- Food: Morning glory tempura with shrimp paste, naan bread, chorizo scrambled eggs, grilled chicken, mushrooms
- Drink: Japanese green tea with roasted rice flavor
- Dessert: Orange Cake with Chocolate Chips
- Champagne: Krug and Cristal
- Cafe: Cafe de Flore, Paris
- Car brands: Mahindra, BMW
- Musician: Ludwig van Beethoven
- Books: Through the Narrow Gate by Karen Armstrong and Cutting Stone by Abraham Vergis
- Sunglasses: Dior, Tom Ford
- Travel destinations: Mumbai, Istanbul and Paris
Facts/Trivia
- He enjoys traveling, listening to Western classical music and photography.
- While in Oman, he also served the former Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, from 1982 to 1986.
- He is a participant in the khadi movement and promoted khadi clothing at BioFach, the world’s largest organic fair, held in Nuremberg, Germany in 2011.
- In 2017, he showcased a plus-size women’s collection at Lakme Fashion Week.
- When one of his good friends, Lisa Ray, decided to get married, she chose a gown designed by Wendell in 2012.
- He was instrumental in promoting the careers of prominent stars like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma. In 2007, he cast Anushka Sharma in the Les Vamps Show at Lakme Fashion Week and encouraged her to move to Mumbai. He also recommended Deepika Padukone to Malaika Arora (who had been modeling for him for about two years), who in turn recommended her to Farah Khan for Deepika’s debut film Om Shanti Om (2007).
Wendell Rodricks and Deepika Padukone appear on Ramp
- In 2019, he called for opposition to the demolition of a century-old church in Korvale, Goa.
- Wendell first met Jerome Marel while working at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in 1983. A friend of Wendell introduced him to Jerome. Wendell attributes his success in fashion design to Marel, which he mentions in his book, The Green Room.
- He loves to cook and often posts pictures of his dishes on his social media accounts.
- He loves animals and has two dogs named Zoe and Zorba and a cat named Freddy.
Wendell Rodriquez and his dog
- He also has a keen interest in music. He can play the guitar and sing.
- He is very close to veteran Indian actress Rekha and considers her his soul sister. He also paid tribute to Rekha at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) in 2014 on her 60th birthday.
Wendell Rodricks and Rekha
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education