Designer Wendell Rodricks started out as a catering graduate but found fashion designing was more suited to his palate. His minimalist chic style is a rage among Indian clothes lovers and he is known for his passion for white. But the ace designer has a few surprises up his sleeve for IFW 2003.

Wendell presents: The grand finale at the India Fashion Week 2003, on the theme Watercolors, along with designer Hemant Trevedi.

Time taken for fittings: Fifteen minutes.

Time taken to get his collection ready: Five days.

What you didn't know: "The thinking for the collection [the designing] takes a long, long time."

His collection features: Abstracts based on the theme of water and the fluidity of the garment. "Lakme [one of the sponsors of the India Fashion Week] came up with the concept. It was up to me and Hemant to interpret it in our individual ways. I thought it was quite interesting to do a theme on water, because my garments have always been fluid."

You will see the following colours in his collection: Blues, pinks, beiges and whites. "Yes, I'm known for all-whites and I was tempted to do that here as well. But then, that's what people expect of me. So I stayed away from that."

What IFW 2003 means to him: Publicity, and the sheer joy of creating within a theme. "I didn't need to worry about wearability and practicality. It's just a complete celebration of the theme. In fact, many of the clothes in this collection are not wearable."

His favourite colours: Black and white. "I have a complete black-and-white wardrobe," he says.

The designer he is most comfortable with: Himself. He admits he has his own comfort uppermost when he designs his clothes. "Somehow, I find my own designs are most comfortable for me. I make my clothes with me in mind."

What he is wearing: A black hip-length, full-sleeved kurta with sand-blasted indigo jeans sprayed with small, ochre splashes. "I think this is a Hemant [Trevedi]," he grins.

What he plans to wear for his showing: "I haven't even thought about it. Who cares? It's only fashion. It's not important."

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