Encomium
Celebrity fashion designer and stylist, Jeremiah Ogbodo also known as Swanky Jerry stormed the fashion scene last year. Against all odds, he has turned out to be one of the most sought after fashion stylists for video shoots, photo shoots, events and the likes.
Late last year, he launched a lounge, Swanky’s Alibi in Lekki, Lagos, and it turned out to be one of the favourite celebrity spots till recent rumours that he fell out with his partner and was no longer operating the lounge.
ENCOMIUM Weekly had a chat with him on why he left the said lounge which is now called Alibi, his present relationship with his former partner and what he has been up to.
What has Swanky Jerry been up to?
I have been working on a lot of things and very soon I would be unveiling them.
You have been in the fashion industry for a while and yet you’ve been very successful. What’s the secret of your success?
There is no special secret other than God and hard work.
How has the journey been so far?
To be honest, it has not been easy but we bless God, He has been good.
What’s new with the Swanky’s Signature brand?
Swanky’s Signature is working on its new collection; so, I am spending most of my time at the workshop to make sure everything works out and on time (laughs).
We heard you fell out with your partner and you no longer run Swanky Alibi with him. How true is this and what really happened?
After successfully running Swanky’s Alibi for months, I decided to create a new nightlife brand using my experience and celebrity loaded network to host people so they can have fun like never before. I accepted a contract with the then Swanky’s Alibi and I worked intensively promoting the place and generally driving traffic to the lounge owning 30 percent of the lounge.
I was able to rename the place and attached my very popular brand name to it. I also made the best decisions for the lounge. In less than a month, the place became one of the most talked about and most visited in Lagos. Because of my celebrity network, it also became the number one celebrity hangout.
I reviewed the success of that venture and decided to take it up a notch and design a new promotion brand that will keep my party people up to date with the best events and parties in Lagos. I decided to end my working relationship with my partner at Swanky’s Alibi and concentrate on my brand to promote clubs and lounges, giving everyone a wider range of the popular Lagos nightlife as it is spoken of abroad.
I am no longer associated with the lounge, Alibi as it now called. I would be operating under my brand name, Swanky’s Signature. So, people can contact me on any of my social network handles for bookings.
So, I have not fallen out with my former partner. I was contracted to create a buzz for the lounge when it was new and I am done with my contract there and on to the next one (laughs).
So, what exactly is your present relationship with your former partner?
It started as a business relationship but we became friends along the line.
What should be expected from the Swanky’s Signature brand in 2014, as the year is still fresh?
Expect nothing but the best from me. Swanky has come to give you what you want.
– TINUOLA JOSEPH
