I’m a big dreamer who made most of my dreams come true. One dream was to give back to Goa..
. what this wonderful state has given us as a legacy. A legacy of great culture, kaleidoscope diversity and formidable ancient history,’ the late designer Wendell Rodricks wrote, while fashioning the idea of the Moda Goa Museum.
It was while researching for an article for a book on the Pano Bhaju Costume worn to dance the Goan Mando that Rodricks realised he was at the start of an adventure of discovery. It would take him through two internships in museums in New York and Lisbon, through 10 years of research, resulting in the dream of setting up the first ever fashion museum in India. For more than two decades, Rodricks, and his partner, Jerome Marrel, worked towards making the dream a reality.
Once word spread, the artefacts started coming in. An altar piece from an old church that had been part of a family home, clothes worn by older generations, ornaments in gold that were specimens of the exquisite handiwork of Goan goldsmiths of yore..
. future curators, Rodricks and Marrel received it all and ensured everything was stored safely. Then fate intervened.
With no warning, on February 12, 2020, Rodricks died of a heart attack as he was taking his customary afternoon nap. And in March the same year, with Covid razing through the country, a nationwide lockdown brought India to a standstill. It would have forced anyone to abandon an orphan dream that was indeed larger than life.
But Ma.
