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{{Short description|Indian fashion designer and author (1960–2020)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox fashion designer
| name = Wendell Rodricks
| image = Wendell Rodricks.jpg
| caption = Rodricks in 2017
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1960|5|28}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Bombay State]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|2|12|1960|5|28}}
| death_place = [[Colvale]], [[Goa]], India
| partner = Jerome Marrel ([[Civil solidarity pact|PACS]] in 2002)
| awards = {{plainlist|
* [[Padma Shri]](2014)
* [[Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres]] (2015)
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Fashion designer|author
}}
| website = {{URL|wendellrodricks.com}}
}}

'''Wendell Rodricks''' (28 May 1960 – 12 February 2020) was an Indian [[fashion designer]] and author based in [[Colvale]], Goa.<ref name="IEDeath">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/goa/wendell-rodricks-passes-away-at-goa-home-6264892/|title=Fashion designer, activist Wendell Rodricks passes away at Goa home|date=12 February 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-15|title=Wendell Rodricks was an icon of Indian's LGBTQ rights movement — a pioneer who ventured where few had dared to|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/wendell-rodricks-was-an-icon-of-indians-lgbtq-rights-movement-a-pioneer-who-ventured-where-few-had-dared-to-8041731.html|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Firstpost}}</ref> He was also an activist for social causes, environment and [[gay rights]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/hes-quite-an-activist-jerome-marrel-on-his-husband-wendell-rodricks-521417.html|title=He's quite an activist: Jerome Marrel on his partner, Wendell Rodricks|last=Saran|first=Sathya|date=15 November 2012|website=Firstpost|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> In 2014, the [[Government of India]] awarded him its fourth-highest civilian award, the [[Padma Shri]].<ref name=padmashri />

==Early life==
Wendell Rodricks was born on 28 May 1960<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/wendell-rodricks-to-interact-with-students/article7840330.ece|title=Wendell Rodricks to interact with students|date=4 November 2015|work=The Hindu|access-date=18 May 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fashionfresta.com/the-top-fashion-designers-in-india/|title=The top fashion designers in India|date=12 October 2014|website=FashionFresta.com|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref> to [[Goan Catholics|Goan Catholic]] parents, Greta and Felix in [[Parel]], [[Bombay]].<ref name="IELadiesTailor20">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/a-glimpse-into-wendells-goa-6277251/|title=Wendell's Goa: How a sleepy village fell in love with a gay 'ladies tailor'|first=Smita|last=Nair|date=24 February 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> He was the eldest brother to Robin, Chester and Joel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Shri Wendell Rodricks laid to rest in Colvale|url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/padma-shri-wendell-rodricks-laid-to-rest-in-colvale/|date=13 February 2020|website=The Navhind Times|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> The original surname of the family was "Rodrigues", but changed to "Rodricks" after a misspelling during his grandfather's time. He grew up in [[Mahim]]<ref name="IELadiesTailor20" /> and attended St. Michael's High School in Mahim. After completing his school education, he completed a graduate diploma in catering.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fashion is not important: Wendell Rodricks |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/18wendell.htm |work=Rediff.com |date=18 July 2003 |access-date=13 December 2008 |author=Sita Menon }}</ref> He then joined as an assistant director of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Officers Club in [[Muscat]] in 1982.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/motoring/top-indian-designer-wendell-rodricks-remembers-the-many-cars-he-has-had-the-luxury-to-drive/article26718112.ece|title=I had to learn driving twice|last=Basu|first=Soma|date=3 April 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=17 May 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> However, he did not pursue these professions but moved to fashion designing. He began by using his savings to study fashion in [[Los Angeles]] and [[Paris]].<ref name="NYTBikini">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/30/fashion/museum-costume-goa-india.html|title=Isn't Goa Style a Bikini? Not According to a New Museum|last=Khan|first=Sarah A.|date=30 March 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=18 May 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Career==
===Fashion===
Rodricks began his career in fashion by designing for Garden Vareli, [[Lakmé Cosmetics]] and [[DeBeers]].<ref name="BSPadmaShri" /> When in Paris, with his first portfolio in hand, he was advised to put "your country in your clothes".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/i-have-broken-many-rules-wendell-rodricks/article8414471.ece|title='I have broken many rules': Wendell Rodricks|last=Mittal|first=Vidhi|date=30 March 2016|work=The Hindu|access-date=21 May 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He launched his own label in 1989, with his first show held at the Regal Room of the [[Oberoi Hotel]], Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-14|title=Fashion's vision|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/wendell-rodricks-fashion-vision-6266938/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> His first collection consisted of twelve ensembles, with model [[Mehr Jesia]]. Out of these, only six were complete outfits. He did not have enough funds for supplying all models with shoes or bottoms for their [[organza]] tunics.<ref name="WeekSojourn2018">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2018/03/31/designer-wendell-rodricks-and-his-museum-for-goan-costumes.html|title=A sartorial sojourn|website=The Week|last=Mathai|first=Anjuly|date=8 Apr 2018|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> Following this, Rodricks' work involved a wide range of fashion, from lecturing on world costume history (at [[SNDT Women's University]]) to fashion journalism and styling for international advertising campaigns.<ref name="NYTBikini" /> He was the first Indian designer to be invited to IGEDO, the world's largest garment fair, in 1995; the first Indian designer to open the [[Dubai Fashion Week]] in 2001; and was invited to present at the [[Paris Fashion Week]] [[Pret a Porter]] salon in 2007.<ref name="ToIEndEra2016" /> He was a fellow design member of the [[Fashion Design Council of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/interview-i-broke-down-and-cried-wendell-rodricks-1958045|title=I broke down and cried!: Wendell Rodricks|date=29 January 2014|first=Zahra|last=Khan|website=DNA India|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fdci.org/Member.aspx?mid=2120588265|title=Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI)|website=fdci.org|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101209/http://www.fdci.org/Member.aspx?mid=2120588265|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rodricks was known for pioneering the idea of resort wear and for advocating [[eco-friendly]] fashion. In 2010, he revived the traditional Goan attire of the ''[[Gauda and Kunbi|kunbi]] [[sari]]''. He convinced [[Pratibha Patil]], [[Priyanka Gandhi]] and [[Sonia Gandhi]] to be its patrons, thus increasing the cost from a meagre {{INRConvert|700|year=2017}} to more than {{INRConvert|7000|year=2017}}, for the benefit of the weavers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fashion/reviving-the-kunbi/article17441541.ece|title=Reviving the Kunbi|last=Zachariah|first=Preeti|date=10 March 2017|work=The Hindu|access-date=17 May 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was also a part of the ''[[khadi]]'' movement, and even promoted it at the world's largest organic fair, [[BioFach]], at [[Nuremberg]], Germany, in 2011 when he was invited there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat-life/from-huts-to-high-streets-khadi-comes-of-age-571810|title=From huts to high streets: Khadi comes of age|publisher=NDTV|date=30 Sep 2011|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> In 2017, he presented a collection for [[Plus-size clothing|plus-size]] women at the [[Lakme Fashion Week]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inshorts.com/en/news/wendell-rodricks-presents-plussize-collection-at-lfw-1503237614434|title=Wendell Rodricks presents plus-size collection at LFW|website=Inshorts - Stay Informed|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.in/content/wendell-rodricks-lakme-fashion-week-winterfestive-2017/|title=Wendell Rodricks at Lakmé Fashion Week winter/festive 2017|date=20 August 2017|website=VOGUE India|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>

Rodricks dressed many over the decades. When his close friend [[Lisa Ray]] decided to get married in 2012, she chose a gown designed by him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/lisa-wendell-gown-satya-paul-sari-wedding-118918-2012-10-17|title=Lisa chooses Wendell's gown, Satya Paul sari for wedding|date=17 Oct 2012|website=India Today|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> In 2014, he paid tribute to actress [[Rekha]] at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), on the occasion of her 60th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/wendell-rodricks-tribute-for-evergreen-rekha-on-60th-birthday-678273|title=Wendell Rodricks' Tribute for Evergreen Rekha on 60th Birthday|website=NDTVMovies.com|date=12 October 2014 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> Rodricks helped [[Deepika Padukone]], who had been modelling with him for roughly two years then, get her debut role in ''[[Om Shanti Om]]'', by recommending her to [[Malaika Arora]], who in turn recommended her to [[Farah Khan]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/malaika-arora-deepika-padukone-om-shanti-om-wendell-rodricks-1039745-2017-09-07|title=Throwback Thursday: Did you know Malaika Arora helped Deepika Padukone bag her first film Om Shanti Om?|date=7 Sep 2017|website=India Today|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref> He also helped [[Anushka Sharma]], launching her as a model in his 2007 Les Vamps Show at the Lakme Fashion Week and encouraged her to move to Mumbai when she was just 18 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/wendell-rodricks-was-why-i-moved-to-mumbai-at-18-anushka-sharma-pays-tribute-to-designer-2179388|title=Wendell Rodricks Was Why I Moved To Mumbai at 18: Anushka Sharma Pays Tribute To Designer|date=13 February 2020|first= Aakanksha|last=Raghuvanshi|website=NDTV.com|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>

In 2016, he announced his retirement from his label, to concentrate on his museum. He handed over creative control to his student, Schulen Fernandes, who first worked with him in 1999.<ref name="ToIEndEra2016">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/End-of-an-era-in-fashion-as-Wendell-Rodricks-retires-from-his-own-label/articleshow/53850524.cms|title=Wendell Rodricks: End of an era in fashion as Wendell Rodricks retires from his own label|date=25 Aug 2016|first1=Lisa |last1=Monteiro |website=The Times of India|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref>

===Acting===
Rodricks made cameo appearances in the 2003 film ''[[Boom (2003 film)|Boom]]'' and in the television play ''[[True West (play)|True West]]'' in 2002. He also played himself in the 2008 film ''[[Fashion (2008 film)|Fashion]]''.<ref name="BSPadmaShri">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/wendell-rodricks-gets-standing-ovation-at-lfw-for-padma-shri-114031500020_1.html|title=Wendell Rodricks gets standing ovation at LFW for Padma Shri|date=15 March 2014|work=Business Standard India|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/i-cannot-sit-on-a-film-set-endlessly-wendell-rodricks/15519172|title=I cannot sit on a film set endlessly: Wendell Rodricks|date=10 August 2014|website=Mid-Day|last=Garg|first=Nikshubha|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref>

===Writing===
Rodricks contributed to journals of travel and art, and wrote about food, especially [[Goan cuisine]].<ref name="NIEPoskem">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/books/2017/nov/06/poskem-wendell-rodricks-draws-attention-to-grim-goan-tradition-4526.html|title=Poskem: Wendell Rodricks draws attention to grim Goan tradition|first=Jaideep|last=Sen|date=6 November 2017|website=The New Indian Express Indulge|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref>

In 2012, Rodricks released his autobiography, titled ''The Green Room''. The books was the result of a writing challenge by Goan author, [[Venita Coelho]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/fashion/designers/The-Green-Room-was-born-out-of-a-challenge-Wendell-Rodricks/articleshow/17400685.cms|title='The Green Room' was born out of a challenge: Wendell Rodricks|first=Ipshita|last=Mitra|date=6 Feb 2013|website=The Times of India|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/Excerpts-from-Wendell-Rodricks-The-Green-Room/articleshow/15746446.cms|title=Excerpts from Wendell Rodricks' The Green Room|date=12 Oct 2002|website=The Times of India|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref>

In 2017, he released ''Poskem: Goans in the Shadows''. It is a work of fiction about ''poskem'', orphans taken in by well-off Goan families, who were employed as servants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/india-slavery-book/fashion-designer-exposes-domestic-servitude-in-indias-sunshine-state-idUSL3N1NJ27I/|title=Fashion designer Wendell Rodricks exposes domestic servitude in India's 'sunshine state' Goa|date=13 November 2017|first=Anuradha|last=Nagaraj|work=Reuters|access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/books-and-art/101117/poskem-an-unheard-saga.html|title=Poskem: An unheard saga|last=James|first=Merin|date=10 November 2017|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> The book features illustrations by [[Mario Miranda]].<ref name="NIEPoskem" />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Books
!Year of Publication !! Name !! Notes !!Reference
|-
|2012 ||''Moda Goa: History and Style'' ||Goan Fashion ||<ref name="HuffPostMuseum2016" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Moda Goa-History And Style|last=Rodricks|first=Wendell|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India|year=2012|isbn=9789350292112|location=India}}</ref>
|-
|2012 ||''The Green Room ''||Autobiography ||<ref name="FirstpostJerome2014" />
|-
|2017 ||''Poskem: Goans in the Shadows'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/848475/wendell-rodrickss-book-on-a-dark-secret-of-goa-stops-short-of-telling-the-entire-truth|title=Wendell Rodricks's book on a dark secret of Goa stops short of telling the entire truth|last=Sudarshan|first=Aditya|website=Scroll.in|date=28 August 2017 |access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5oyDwAAQBAJ|title=Poskem: Goans in the Shadows|last=Rodricks|first=Wendell|date=30 June 2017|publisher=Om Books International|isbn=9789352761234|language=en}}</ref>
|}

===Other pursuits===
From 1993 onwards, Rodricks resided in a 450-year-old house in [[Colvale]], named Casa Dona Maria. In 2016, he and his partner moved to a smaller house nearby to convert the larger one into a museum of Goan fashion,<ref name="HuffPostMuseum2016">{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/06/01/wendell-rodricks-goan-fas_n_10232914.html|title=Designer Wendell Rodricks Converts 450-Year-Old Home into Museum For Goan Fashion|last=Nayar|first=Aashmita|date=1 June 2016|website=HuffPost India|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> named the Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre. The museum was initially set to open to the public in March 2020.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/indian-fashion-world-loses-pioneering-multifaceted-designer/article30805024.ece | title=Indian fashion world loses pioneering, multifaceted designer Wendell Rodricks| newspaper=The Hindu| date=13 February 2020| last1=Vij| first1=Gauri}}</ref> Rodricks worked on collecting exhibits for it since 1998, when he began his research into Goa's costumes and clothing. He had since collected 800 exhibits, ranging from an original ''pano bhaju'', to [[Reita Faria]]'s bathing suit (which won her the title of [[Miss World]] in 1966), to an ''[[apsara]]'' found in a nearby field dating to a [[Buddhist]] monastery from the 7th century.<ref name="NYTBikini" /><ref name="NIEKeeperCulture">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/cover/2019/mar/17/the-keeper-of-culture-wendell-rodricks-on-the-moda-foa-museum-of-costumes-and-other-projects-13443.html|title=The keeper of culture: Wendell Rodricks on the Moda Goa museum of costumes, and other projects|first=Jaideep|last=Sen|date=17 March 2019|website=The New Indian Express Indulge|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> {{As of|2024|May}}, the museum was not opened publicly. After Rodricks' death, his partner, Marell, has been working to complete the museum for its opening.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=Leaving a living legacy for Goans |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/Leaving-a-living-legacy-for-Goans/221884 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref>

Rodricks was also one of the speakers at [[TEDx]]Panaji 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=50850|title=Innovating hacks for a better future|first=Jay|last=Joshi|date=18 Apr 2019|website=The Goan|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>

==Activism==
Rodricks wrote a column in the Goa-based monthly ''[[Goa Today]]'', where he often raised issues of social concerns and the environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/wendell-rodricks-turns-into-environmental-activist/776987|title=Wendell Rodricks Turns into Environmental Activist|work=Outlook India |first=Nikhil |last=Agarwal |date=2 October 2012}}</ref> In the mid-2000s, he began a mailing list with [[Margaret Mascarenhas]], urging citizens to report cases of lack of waste management.<ref name="FirstpostMultitudes20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/wendell-rodricks-passes-away-fashion-designer-is-too-small-a-term-to-encompass-the-multitudes-that-was-padma-shri-awardee-8036741.html|title=Wendell Rodricks passes away: Fashion designer is too small a term to encompass the multitudes that was Padma Shri awardee|website=Firstpost|first=Manjima|last=Bhattacharjya|date=15 Feb 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> He spoke out against the IRFW (India Resort Fashion Week) in 2012 stating that it "damages the environment".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/e-fashion/2012/oct/08/im-against-irfw-it-damages-environment-wendell-rodricks-413205.html|title=I'm against IRFW, it damages environment: Wendell Rodricks|website=The New Indian Express|date=10 October 2012 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> In 2018, he started a helpline for the [[LGBTQ community]] with the help of Ruby Almeida, the co-chair of Global Network of Rainbow Catholics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/wendell-rodricks-lgbtq-helpline-has-churchs-blessing/19942198|title=Wendell Rodricks LGBTQ helpline has Church s blessing|date=2 November 2018|website=Mid-Day|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> In 2019, he petitioned against the demolition of a 100-year-old church in Colvale, Goa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/goa-news/over-100-year-old-st-anthonys-chapel-in-goa-faces-demolition-pm-modi-urged-to-save-2006708|title=Designer Wendell Rodricks Urges PM Modi To Save 100-Year-Old Goan Chapel|website=NDTV.com|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> He had previously closed one of his boutiques in a resort owned by a mine owner, in protest of the illegal mining in Goa. He also unsuccessfully campaigned against the cutting down of six mango trees to make a highway in Colvale, citing that they were more than 200 years old.<ref name="FirstpostMultitudes20" />

Wendell Rodricks was a patron of the [[KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival]], the annual LGBTQ film festival in Mumbai, and instituted an award for Best Poster Design in 2012 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/wendell-rodricks-announces-winner-of-kashish-2012-poster-contest.html|title=Wendell Rodricks announces winner of KASHISH 2012 poster contest |website=yahoo.com/|date=22 May 2012 |access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> and continued to support the award every year. He also picked the winning entry every year as the Honorary Judge, with his keen aesthetic eye.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://youthincmag.com/wendell-rodricks-picks-kashish-2020-poster-contest-winner|title=Wendell Rodricks picks KASHISH 2020 Poster Contest Winner |website=youthincmag.com/|date=10 February 2020 |access-date=10 Feb 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Rodricks was actively homosexual since he was 19 years old, and formalized his relationship with a wealthy French businessman named Jerome Marrel in a [[Civil solidarity pact]] in Paris in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/they-expected-me-to-be-this-terrible-monster-who-d-try-to-grab-them/cid/1534837|date=14 Oct 2007|title='They expected me to be this terrible monster...who'd try to grab them'|website=The Telegraph|location=Kolkata|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref> He had met Marrel in [[Oman]] through a friend who set them up while Rodricks was working there for the [[Royal Oman Police]] (ROP) Officers Club in 1983. Rodricks credited Marrel for his success as a fashion designer, in his autobiography, ''The Green Room.''<ref name="FirstpostJerome2014">{{cite news|last1=Sathya|first1=Saran|title=He's quite an activist: Jerome Marrel on his partner, Wendell Rodricks|url=http://www.firstpost.com/living/hes-quite-an-activist-jerome-marrel-on-his-husband-wendell-rodricks-521417.html|access-date=19 July 2014|publisher=Firstpost|date=13 November 2012}}</ref> They both loved travelling and had visited over 150 countries together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://travelandleisureindia.in/wendell-rodricks-jerome-marrel/|title=Wendell Rodricks & Jerome Marrel Talk To Us About 25 Years Of Travelling Together|last=Pushpan|first=Shikha|date=11 February 2019|website=Travel + Leisure India|access-date=17 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517144619/https://travelandleisureindia.in/wendell-rodricks-jerome-marrel/|archive-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>

Rodricks lived and worked in Bombay (Mumbai) until the [[1993 Bombay bombings]], following which he moved with his partner Marrell and their pet dogs to his ancestral village of [[Colvale]] in [[Goa]]. He donated towards the improvement of the village and started a scholarship for the toppers of the schools of the village, in memory of his parents.<ref name="IELadiesTailor20" />

Rodricks was [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], and a founding member and prominent activist of the LGBT Catholic advocacy group Rainbow Catholics India.<ref>
{{cite web
|url= https://questlgbti.uk/rainbow-catholics-india-death-of-wendell-rodricks/
|title=Rainbow Catholics India: Death of Wendell Rodricks
|work=Quest UK
|date=12 February 2020
}}</ref>
He was the godfather of Arhaan Khan, the son of the film-maker [[Arbaaz Khan]] and his ex-wife [[Malaika Arora]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/Bandra-church-stymies-Salmans-godfather-ambition/articleshow/31011319.cms|title=Bandra church stymies Salman's godfather ambition |first=Roshni|last=Olivera |date=12 December 2002 |website=The Times of India|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref> Rodricks played a large role in forming the career of Arora and remained close to her and her family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/6nhhJv15PwMuPXk0xRL0kN/End-of-the-muse.html|title=End of the muse|last=Vasudev|first=Shefalee|date=11 March 2016|website=LiveMint|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>

==Death==
Rodricks died on 12 February 2020 at his residence in [[Colvale]], Goa, at the age of 59.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mumbailive.com/en/fashion/indian-fashion-designer-wendell-rodricks-dies-in-goa-45331|title=Popular Fashion Designer Wendell Rodricks Passes Away|date=12 February 2020|work=Mumbai Live|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> On 13 February, the [[Goa Police]] announced that they were still investigating the cause of his death, although it was allegedly reported that he had been suffering from a prolonged illness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/celebrity/story/goa-police-on-wendell-rodricks-cause-of-death-being-ascertained-1645944-2020-02-13|title=Goa police on Wendell Rodricks: Cause of death being ascertained|date=13 February 2020|website=India Today|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref> A close friend of his reported that he had died due to heart failure during an afternoon nap. His funeral was held on 13 February at the St Francis of Assisi Church, Colvale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/close-friend-of-wendell-rodricks-says-ace-designer-died-in-his-sleep20200213233536/|title=Close friend of Wendell Rodricks says ace designer died in his sleep|date=13 Feb 2020|website=ANI|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref>

==Awards==
* [[Padma Shri]] in 2014<ref name="padmashri">{{cite web|title=Padma Shri to Wendell Rodricks would help LGBT Community in India|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/01/padma-shri-to-wendell-rodricks-would-help-lgbt-community-in-india/|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|publisher=Biharprabha News|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title =Padma Awards Announced |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs| url = http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69364 |date=25 January 2014|access-date = 26 January 2014}}</ref>
* [[Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres]] ({{translation|Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters}}) in 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/french-award-for-wendell-rodricks-know-everything-about-the-award-250759-2015-04-29|title=Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters award for Wendell Rodricks : Know everything about the award|date=30 April 2015|website=India Today|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>
* Rainbow Warrior Award in 2014 by [[KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival]]<ref name="IEDeath"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-diary-page-wednesday-whispers/15333197|title=Warriors in a noble cause|date=28 May 2014|website=Mid-Day|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|www.wendellrodricks.com}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{YouTube|N7jjTxt1-3E|Presentation: Goan Pano Bhaju by Wendell Rodricks (GALF 2017)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodricks, Wendell}}

[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Artists from Goa]]
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Indian fashion designers]]
[[Category:LGBTQ fashion designers]]
[[Category:Indian gay artists]]
[[Category:Indian gay writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:LGBTQ Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Indian LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in other fields]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]

Wendell Rodricks - Revision history

ScarlettNicholso: creating