THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 13, 2020 Fashion guru, mentor Rodricks dies at 59 [email protected] sionalism to the fashion industry: He appreciated the Indian figure and la- Panaji: Indianfashion's 'guru of min- belled his creations at his store in Goa imalism' Wendell Rodricks passed with 'slim', 'medium', 'voluptuous' away at his quiet village of Colvale on and 'voluptuous goddess' labels in- Wednesday evening, He was 59. stead of the generic 'large' and 'extra- During his life, he played many large'tabs, which he said were an "out- roles - designer, environmentalist, right insult to the Indian woman". writer - but perhaps most long-last- The eldest of four brothers, Rodricks ing was his role as mentor to innu- was brought up in a Mumbai chawl. merable Goan youths, including But it was not all fashion and Mister Supranational 2018 looms for him. When it came Prathamesh Maulingkar. to the protection of Goa, Ro- One of the earliest and dricks never hesitated to prominent public figures to raise his voice. He protested come out in the open about deforestation and was vocal his gay status, Rodricks is about protecting Goa's envi- survived by his partner Je- ronment. His role was pivotal rome Marrel, who he mar- in the protection of the centu- ried in 2002 in Paris. ries-old trees in Colvale that A Padma Shri recipient, eventually faced the axe for a Rodricks exerted considera- WendellRodricks national highway. And just r ble influence on the fashion when one thought he had world after he turned eco-friendly done it all, Wendell traded his needle V and glorified the minimal look at a and thread for the mighty pen. In 20l2, time when the terms weren't heard he penned his ode to Goa in 'Moda of in Indian fashion. Goa-History and Style'. His funeral He was instrumental in rolling out will be held at the St Francis of Assisi the carpet for the first Lakme India church at Colvaleat 4pmon Thursday. Fashion Week, which brought profes- Full report on www.toi.in.