Wendell Rodricks Age, Death, Wife, Family, Children, Biography & More

Bio/Wiki
Profession(s)	Fashion Designer & Author
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 178 cm in meters- 1.78 m in feet & inches- 5’ 10”
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Career
Notable Works	• First Book: Moda Goa: History and Style (2012) • The Green Room (2012; Autobiography) • First Fictional Work: Poskem: Goans in the Shadows (2017)
Awards, Honours, Achievements	• Chevalier de l’Ordre National des Arts et Lettres by the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France in 2015 • Padma Shri in 2014 • Honoured by the All India Konkani Parishad
Personal Life
Date of Birth	28 May 1960 (Saturday)
Birthplace	Mumbai, India
Date of Death	12 February 2020 (Wednesday)
Place of Death	At his Residence in Colvale Village of Goa
Age (at the time of death)	59 Years
Death Cause	The cause of his death is uncertain. Reportedly, he died due to prolonged illness.
Zodiac sign	Gemini
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Mumbai, India
School	St. Michael High School, Mahim, Mumbai
Educational Qualification	• Graduation in Hotel Management • Studied Fashion Designing in London and Paris from 1986 to 1988
Religion	Christianity
Community	Goan Catholic [1]News18
Food Habit	Non-Vegetarian
Address	158, Near Francisco Loui Louis Gommes Garden, Campal, Panjim, 403001
Hobbies	Travelling, Reading, Doing Photography, Listening to Western Classical Music
Tattoo(s)	A lightening Bolt Tattoo on his Left hand's Ring Finger
Controversies	• In 2016, he exhibited the history of Goan costumes at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa titled "Ten Histories/Goan Costume." At the event, Goa University professor and Head of the History Department, Dr Pratima Kamat called out the exhibition for factual inaccuracies. Pratima further told the organizers to cover the text until everything was sorted out. Wendell threatened to withdraw from being a curator of the exhibition. At last, the covers were removed and his text was on display. [2]Indian Express • In 2018, he uploaded a picture on his Instagram account; accusing Payal Khandawala of plagiarizing his technique of pleating of the fabric. The picture shared by Wendell included his creation and that of Payal's, who had been mentored by Wendell. Wendell wrote on his Instagram, [3]Hindustan Times "At a time when the fashion industry is reeling with demonetisation and GST, it is deplorable when a person one taught, mentored, befriended and got into LFW should resort to such blatant copying. Sorry... but since 1995, have been doing this pleating with innovation but now since it affects our business I am forced to call this out. • In 2019, he slammed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's stylists for dressing her inappropriately at Paris Fashion Week. He posted a collage of her looks on his social media account and wrote, "@loreal you’ve got one of many prettiest ladies on this planet and that is the way you do her make-up and gown her? Sack the stylist for this sack gown with a notice that Halloween is subsequent month." • In 2020, Wendell criticized Priyanka Chopra for her customised gown by Ralph & Russo that she wore to the Grammy Awards Function. Wendell was criticized for his comments from people including Priyanka's mother, Madhu Chopra and actress, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi. After which, Wendell released his statement, in which he wrote, [4]The Indian Express "For all those that said some really nasty things about me body shaming, here is my retort. Did I say anything about her body? No. Many women did. I just said the dress was wrong for her despite it being couture. It was more dress shaming than body shaming. Stop this sermon from high and read the post before you speak. There is an age to wear some clothes. Men with huge bellies should not wear tight T-shirts. Same with women who wear minis past a certain age. If you don’t have it, don’t flaunt it. I stopped wearing Bermudas as I have a few varicose veins. Don’t make every issue body shaming, sexist or whatever. Or you can be false and fake resorting to being politically correct and not be truthful. If you don’t like my posts unfriend me."
Relationships & More
Sexual Orientation	Homosexual [5]Times of India
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Married
Affairs/Boyfriends	Jerome Marrel
Marriage Year	2002
Family
Husband/Spouse	Jerome Marrel
Parents	Father- Felix Roque Rodricks Mother- Greta Rodricks
Favourite Things
Food	Morning Glory Tempura with Prawn Dip, Pani Puri, Chorizo Chilli fry with egg, Roasted Chicken, Mushrooms
Dessert	Orange cake with chocolate chips
Cuisines	Indian, French, Chinese, Ottoman
Beverage	Green Japanese tea with roasted rice flavour
Champagne	Krug and Crystal
Wine	Carton Charlemagne
Cafe	Cafe de Flore, Paris
Automobile Brand(s)	Mahindra, BMW
Musician	Ludwig van Beethoven
Sunglasses	Dior and Tom Ford
Books	"Through the Narrow Gate" by Karen Armstrong and "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese
Colours	Black and White

Some Lesser Known Facts About Wendell Rodricks

• Did Wendell Rodricks drank alcohol?: Yes
  

  Wendell Rodrics’ Instagram post

• After his graduation, he joined the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in the City of Muscat in 1982. However, he could not remain in the profession and decided to pursue fashion designing. He pursued fashion designing from London and Paris, with the help of his savings from his job in Oman.
  

  Wendell Rodricks in Oman

• He also served the former Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said from 1982 to 1986, when he was working in Oman.

• After completing his fashion designing course, he interned at the National Museum of Costume and Fashion in Lisbon (on the conservation of pre-21st century garments), and the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City (on modern garments, under the museum’s director, Valerie Steele).

• He started his career as a fashion designer by designing for popular brands like Garden Vareli, Lakmé Cosmetics, and DeBeers.

• He launched his own label ‘Wendell Rodricks’ in 1989. His first show with his label was held at the Regal Room of Oberoi Hotel.
  

• In the show, his collection consisted of twelve organza tunics, with the models like Mehr Jesia, and out of all his ensembles, only six were complete; as he did not have enough fund to supply models with shoes or bottoms for their dress. His first collection earned him the title of ‘Guru of Minimalism.’

• In 1995, came his second collection, which introduced the concept of ‘resort wear’ and ‘eco-friendly garments,’ the terms which were remote to India at that time.

• He is the first designer from India to be invited for shows at IGEDO in Germany (1995), Dubai Fashion Week (2001), Malaysia Fashion Week (2002), the prestigious Paris Pret-a-Porter Salon (2007), and the world’s biggest organic fair, BioFach in Nuremberg, Germany (2012).

• In 2011, at Nuremberg, Germany, he promoted Khadi wear at BioFach, the world’s largest organic fair, as a part of Khadi Movement.

• In 2010, he revised the Goan attire of the Kunbi Sari and showcased them at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. His efforts in revival of the dying craft; earned him appreciation from Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dishit, and Pratibha Patil.
  

  Wendell Rodrics- Revival of Kunbi Sari

• In 2014, he paid a tribute to Rekha at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), on the occasion of her 60th birthday. He was very close to Rekha and considered her as his soul sister.
  

  Wendell Rodricks with Rekha

• In 2016, he announced his retirement from his label, in an effort to concentrate on his museum “Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre.” He handed his label over to his student, Schulen Fernandes.

• He presented a collection for plus-size women at Lakme Fashion Week 2017.
  

  Wendell Rodricks at Lakme Fashion Week 2017

• In 1998, the late cartoonist and painter, and a close acquaintance of Wendell, Mario Miranda requested him to write a chapter on Pano Bhaju, a traditional outfit worn to perform Mando in Goa. He started researching on the subject in detail, and in the process, Wendell interned at Lisbon and New York and learned Portuguese to be able to read ancient texts, relating to the outfit. The years of his research was finally published in 2012 by Harper Collins, in his book “Moda Goa: History and Style.”
  

  Mario Miranda

• He also wrote for many magazines, coffee table books, and anthologies and wrote on subjects like travel and art, and food, especially Goan cuisines.

• He made cameo appearances in the Bollywood film  “Boom” (2003) and the television play “True West” (2002). He also made an appearance in the 2008 Bollywood film “Fashion” as himself.

• Since 1993, Wendell and his husband, Jerome were living in a 450-year-old house in Colvale called Casa Dona Maria. In 2016, they shifted to a smaller house and converted the house to a museum. The museum is named “Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre.”
  

  Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre

• He was also a social activist and raised his voice on the issues concerning the environment and gay rights. He also used to write a column for Goa Today; focusing on various social and environmental issues. In 2012, he advocated against the IRFW (India Resort Fashion Week), which, according to Wendell was damaging the environment.

• In 2018, he opened a helpline for LGBTQ+ community, with the help of Ruby Almeida, the co-chair of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics.

• In 2019, he petitioned against the demolition of a 100-year old church in Colvale, Goa.

• He is the godfather of Arhaan Khan, the son of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora.

• He was instrumental in launching the careers of the famous Bollywood celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma. He recommended Deepika Padukone (who had been modelling for him for roughly two years) for the film “Om Shanti Om” (2007) to Malaika Arora, who in turn recommended her to Farah Khan. He also launched Anushka Sharma as a model at Les Vamps Show at the Lakme Fashion Week 2007 and also encouraged her to move to Mumbai.
  

  Wendell Rodricks with Anushka Sharma

• He met Jerome Marrel for the first time when he was working for the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in 1983. A friend of Wendell had introduced him to Jerome. After staying in a relationship for a few years, they both got married in a civil ceremony in Paris in 2002. Wendell gave credits to Marrel for his success as a fashion designer, which he mentioned in his book “The Green Room.”

• He liked to cook and often used to post photos of his recipes on his social media account.
  

  Wendell Rodrics’ Instagram post

• He loved animals and owned two dogs named Zoe and Zorba, and a cat named Freddy.
  

  Wendell Rodricks with his Dogs

• Apart from being a fashion designer, he also had an interest in music and used to sing and knew how to play the guitar.

View this post on Instagram

For those who wanted the audio, here it is. And you better buy the CD when it’s out in 2020 ?

A post shared by Wendell Rodricks (@wendellrodricks) on Dec 1, 2019 at 9:20am PST