Designer Wendell Rodricks’ first showcase back in the 1990s earned him the title ‘Guru of minimalism’. He then went on to pioneer the concept of resort-wear and eco-friendly garments in Indian fashion. After over two decades in the fashion industry, Rodricks has said goodbye to the runway and handed over his label to his prodigy, Schulen Fernandes.
Rodricks’ show at the opening day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) on Wednesday was his last runway presentation and he very proudly handed over his hat to Fernandes, making the announcement on the ramp.
“It’s an emotional day for me as from now on, she will represent me. Schulen was working with me since she passed out from college, she was my student,” said Rodricks after the show.
“I think it’s very essential that every designer plans to move. No point reaching at the crisis stage and then decide who is going to take over your label.... Because we don’t want the label to die when the designer goes... So we want to actually put somebody in place. Schulen is the one for me,” he added.
The Padma Shri awardee pointed out that there are many designers who have handed over their businesses to family members. But for him, Fernandes was the right choice.
“Some of them [designers] are older than me and they had passed on their businesses and brands to their family members. Like Ritu Kumar did with her son, but we didn’t want to do it that way,” Rodricks said.
“We wanted to give it to someone who knows our philosophy and Schulen knows it very well. She knows what my philosophy is, so it was an easy transition for me to leave the label with her because I know I am leaving it in trusted hands,” he added.
So was the LFW stage actually his last fashion runway presentation?
“Yes, technically. Now you will see me as Wendell Rodricks for my books and my museum [in Goa] from October,” he said, and added that he will keep sharing his creative ideas whenever the brand needs him.
“Fashion is there and I will keep the passion for fashion very much alive in my head. If I get any ideas, I will share it with [Schulen]. I will still go to the studio and do one or two sample fits... To enjoy,” he said.
At the fashion gala, Rodricks, along with Fernandes, showcased a collection titled Trapezoid. The fabrics used in the collection were primarily linen, paper silk, silk crepe, malkha cotton, stripe chanderi silk dyed mul and more handloom ones.
The designer showcased sheer layering, distorted sleeves, structured pintucks, tulip trousers and lots of free-flowing outfits.
Rodricks also addressed the lack of a uniform sizing standard in India and launched a size chart at the fashion gala, which took place at St Regis, Mumbai.
“There is no size chart in the country. We are supposed to be the biggest, youngest economy and consumer in the next five to 10 years and we don’t have a standard chart,” said Rodricks.
“Every designer comes with a different size chart... There is too much of confusion for clients, buyers or for the retailer... So that needed to be sorted out. Models also said that you should have model size chart as that will help fashion students who are doing clothes for models. They needed this chart very badly, so next time we will put out a model chart as well,” he added.
The size chart is available at the ongoing fashion gala for anyone to grab a copy.
