A Goan Odyssey

The book was released by veteran actress Rekha,who pointed out how Rodricks was ‘the best thing about Goa’. “It is an honour that he asked me to launch the book,” she said before making a quick exit. However,a lot of other guests and Rodricks’ friends from the fashion fraternity — Anil and Sabina Chopra,Anjana Sharma and Vipasha Agarwal — stayed on till the end to raise a toast to their Goa connect and their favourite designer.

Fashion consultant Meher Castelino,who is one of the contributors of the book,was also present at the event. She recalled the day when she first met him in the year 1988. “Back then,I was the fashion editor for a magazine called Flair,I asked him to submit his designs for our cocktail feature. I was very impressed by the two stunning form-fitted dresses,” she reminisced.

It was also a proud moment for Rodricks’ mentor,Kalinidi Randeri,the former principal of PV Polytechnic at SNDT College. “When I made him take up the teaching assignment at the polytechnic,I realised that he was as curious as any of his students about the rarest of subjects revolving around fashion. I always knew he had it in him to make it big,” she noted.