Pam Hogg Passes Away Aged 66
Pam Hogg, the pioneering British fashion designer known for her avant garde creations and her influence on punk culture, has died aged 66, her family have confirmed.
Hogg became one of the most distinctive figures in British fashion, recognised for her unusual, futuristic designs and her long association with the punk and post-punk scenes. She dressed major cultural icons including Rihanna, Kate Moss, Björk, Debbie Harry and Siouxsie Sioux, and became respected internationally for her independent approach to design.
Her family announced her death in a statement on Instagram, saying she died “surrounded by the loving care of cherished friends and family”. They added: “We wish to thank all the staff of St Joseph’s hospice, Hackney for the beautiful support they provided for Pamela in her final days.”
Born in Paisley near Glasgow, Hogg began making clothes at the age of six. After studying at the Glasgow School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, she emerged as part of the city’s early 1980s club scene. She initially created dramatic, attention-grabbing outfits for Steve Strange’s Blitz club, a space that helped define British fashion’s relationship with nightlife and performance. Her first catwalk show took place in 1981.
By 1989, i-D magazine described her as “the most consistently inventive British fashion designer (alongside Vivienne Westwood)”. It also noted that she “has been described as ‘100% party girl’ and has designed the clothes to match”. Leading figures in music and punk culture, including Paula Yates, Debbie Harry and Siouxsie Sioux, frequently wore her designs.
Hogg soon became a well known personality herself. Her blond quiff, vivid lipstick and sharp eyeliner made her instantly recognisable, and she appeared on the cover of i-D in 1989 and on the Wogan television programme in 1990. Speaking to the Guardian in 2018, she said of the appearance: “I was off my head. I was wearing my black PVC leggings and Terry Wogan remarked that they looked uncomfortable. So my immediate reaction was: ‘Are they?’ and I sat on his lap.”
As minimalism began to dominate fashion in the 1990s, Hogg turned to music and became the lead singer of Doll, supporting Blondie and the Raincoats. She continued to design extravagant stagewear. Speaking to the Gentlewoman in 2017 about this period, she recalled bringing a Ziggy Stardust inspired outfit to Kate Moss. “When I got there, she immediately tore off the amazing couture dress she was wearing and put it on. That was kind of gratifying.”
Hogg returned to fashion in the 2000s. She created striking looks for international musicians including Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Björk, and returned to the runway in 2009 with vivid catsuits and sculptural designs that reinforced her reputation for innovation. Speaking to Vogue in 2021, she said: “I knew that one day I would return to fashion. I still sew every single catwalk piece myself. I make it all to fit me, except that everything is four inches longer for the models.”
Her final collection, Of Gods and Monsters in 2024, used recycled materials and found objects and addressed themes of environmental crisis and the genocide in Gaza. Speaking to Keyi magazine, she said:
“It is an unfair and imbalanced world. There is no time like the present to correct this … please use your voice.”
Pam Hogg leaves a legacy marked by originality, rebellion and a lifelong commitment to independent creation - rest in power, Pam.