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Haute Tropics

Cut and colour whiz Wendell Rodricks makes a splash this summer with his Lakme Fashion Week finale line “Tropical Island.” Crayon brights, sleek silhouettes and flowing fabrics are the highlight of the collection unveiled at Collage, Greams Road.

Talking about the new line, the Goa-based designer says, “Tropical islands are colourful and picturesque. It was refreshing for me to do a collection based on the myriad moods of the islands. But, the line is not about bikinis and wraps. It goes beyond the beach. It’s not about someone who is going on a holiday. It’s about someone who has returned from a Tropical island greatly influenced by the flavours of the sea and the shore. So waves, exotic fruits, beautiful birds and butterflies form part of the repertoire of motifs. It’s visually interesting — at the same time very refined.”

With a sunny smile that’s in sync with his subject, he continues, “Colour has always been a strong point of my creations. This time, I was influenced by design ace Yves Saint Laurent and the way he mixed bright hues to add drama to his collections. But as usual, in the midst of the visual overdrive, there’s plenty of white too. Since I work from Goa, the beautiful white-washed walls of the churches have always spurred me to create some pristine pieces.”

As for the fabrics, the line that comprises kaftans, saris, skirts and tops, uses lycra, linen and georgette with satin. So the line balances flow and volume, colour and cut with deftness. “It’s quite a layered look. It’s about mixing sheer kaftans with churidars and cholis. The key to making an individualistic fashion statement is about mixing silhouettes.”

About the saris, the designer says, “I’ve tried snazzy combinations as well as played with dark tones. For instance, there’s a sari in charcoal, pale blue and purple.” Now, that sounds like a visual overdrive. But Wendell’s speciality lies in the way he creates drama with hues.

The creations are priced at Rs. 4,000 upwards.

Linen love

Wendell Rodricks will soon launch his line of bed linen for Bombay Dyeing. “I’ve used linen in varied textures – jacquard to matte. And there are cotton and silk-cotton creations. It’s something new that I’ve tried out, and I’m excited.”

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