Fashion Conscience: Wendell Rodricks Champions Goan Heritage and Responsible Design
While it is common for fashion designers to spend months actively researching their inspirations and months to transform those inspirations into an entire collection, it rarely takes years – unless you are Wendell Rodricks and the path from your inspiration involves reviving a nearly lost handcraft. Nine years ago Wendell began researching the traditional weaving techniques of Goa’s Kunbi Tribe, weaving techniques that were declining in practice across Goa.
The Kunbi are recognized as one of the indigenous peoples of Goa, yet, unfortunately, they have been marginalized by mainstream society and in an effort to avoid the stigma associated with their ethnic saris and identifiable weaves, the Kunbi practice of their handcrafts has declined significantly. Fortunately Wendell identified the ethnic saris and weaves as beautiful, workable, and unique to Goa’s heritage – a foundation for Goa’s own traditional sari.
Wendell’s years of research included sourcing Kunbi looms, which were very difficult to find, as well as coaxing those familiar with the traditional weaving techniques to impart their knowledge and skill. Wendell’s persistence and unwavering interest in the Kunbi handcraft resulted in a socially-conscious collection that celebrates Goan heritage and embraces ethnic identity.
Cheers to Wendell! His Kunbi-inspired S/S 2011 collection stays true to his signature sexiness and minimalism. The collection showcases a skillful combination of soft, lightweight fabrics made of cotton, silk, wovens, and knits, in beautifully muted shades and pastels.
In addition to the social-consciousness of this collection, Wendell continues to implement eco-responsible design practices. His Kunbi-inspired collection was created using eco-friendly and natural dyes derived from fruit, vegetation, and iron-ore.
Wendell rallied support for his Kunbi Weave Project from the Goa Tourism Department and has since taken extra steps to build upon the preservation and practice of ethic weaving techniques – he submitted a project to the Goa Department of Higher Education.
His Kunbi-inspired saris have been presented to: President Pratibha Patil; Congress President Sonia Gandhi; Priyanka Gandhi; Goa’s first lady, Asha Kamat; and embraced by actress and filmmaker, Nandita Das, who publically declared that, “The Goan ethnic [Kunbi] sari can proudly stand alongside any sari in India”.
Wendell Rodricks is greeted with a standing ovation, surrounded by models wearing his Kunbi-inspired S/S 2011 collection at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. View an edited version of the Kunbi-inspired collection shown at
WIFW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAnRNB4TaFQ
Posted by : Edith Barker at 05:56 AM
Edith Barker & Pollyana Patel quickly became friends after meeting in Bangalore, India. Edith has a dual career in psychotherapy and fashion public relations; Pollyana is an image consultant, model, and the brand ambassador for Ritu & Rochana. They currently have two projects in development under Barker & Patel, and have agreed to join the FashionFad team to share their travels, experiences and musings.
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