Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg — a cult figure in ’80s London who dressed the likes of Debbie Harry and tore up the dance floor at the Blitz Club — has died, her family revealed in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
“A glorious life lived and loved,” the family said. “Pamela’s creative spirit and body of work touched the lives of many people of all ages and she leaves a magnificent legacy that will continue to inspire, bring joy and challenge us to live beyond the confines of convention.”
No cause of death was given, but the family thanked “all the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney, for the beautiful support they provided for Pamela in her final days.”
“Pam Hogg was an eccentric, dominant London character,” Zandra Rhodes told WWD. “In the early 1980s, alongside the likes of Bodymap, Pam reinvented Lycra catsuits and disco fashion. In more recent times, she lit up London with her fantastic fashion shows at Freemasons Hall.
“A prominent figure across the arts, fashion and British music scenes, the fashion world won’t quite be as vivid or rebellious now Pam is no longer with us. She will be greatly missed,” Rhodes said.
Pam Hogg RTW Fall 2023
Courtesy of Pam Hogg
“Fashion designer/musician/filmmaker/mischief maker/Doctor of letters n broken hearts” is how Hogg is described on her Instagram account, which has 152,000 followers, including fashion friends like Kim Jones and Miguel Adrover.
Hogg’s vast circle included the likes of Siouxsie Sioux, Nick Cave, Boy George, Alison Mosshart and Fat Tony — and she fit right in with her rock-star worthy lemon-yellow hair, bold sunglasses and slogan T-shirts.
According to her website, Hogg “grabbed clubland by the scruff of its neck” with her early designs, initially stocked at Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdale’s. She staged her first catwalk show in 1985, soon after opened her namesake boutique in the heart of London’s Soho district.
Fashion designer Pam Hogg is seen at Paris Ready to Wear Fashion Week on September 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kuba Dabrowski/WWD)
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Music was a big influence for Hogg, whose first band Rubbish served as the opening act for The Pogues. She later toured with the industrial band Pigface.
She took a pause from making clothes to create a fashion film titled “Accelerator” and starring the likes of Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie.
Hogg conscripted Alice Dellal, Daisy Lowe, Jaime Winstone and Liberty Ross for her 2009 return to the runway, and Vivienne Westwood took a seat at Hogg’s first Paris showing in 2012.
In recent collections, she worked in shiny PVC, delicate swathes of tulle and lots of leather for catsuits and dresses.
Pam Hogg RTW Fall 2018
Aitor Rosás/WWD
