“We would like to thank all the staff at St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney for the beautiful support they provided to Pamela in her final days,” it continued. “Pamela’s creative spirit and work has touched the lives of many people of all ages and she leaves a wonderful legacy that will continue to inspire, delight and challenge us to live beyond traditional boundaries. Pamela will live on in our hearts and minds. A wonderful life lived and loved.”
Born in Paisley in 1951, Hogg studied fine art and textiles at the Glasgow School of Art before moving to London to study for her master’s degree at the Royal College of Art. While living in London, music became a major creative outlet for Hogg, leading a band called Rubbish in the late 1970s and then becoming part of the Blitz club scene.
The Blitz Club, a famous nightclub in London’s Covent Garden, was an important venue for the New Romantic movement of the 1980s. According to the designer, his first steps in creating his own clothes were a result of the club’s strict dress code, enforced by its notorious doorman Steve Strange. From there Hogg released his first collection psychedelic jungle in 1981 and became part of the ‘New Wave’ group of designers inspired by punk aesthetics, androgynous, bold, colorful hair and futuristic beauty looks.
Despite never succumbing to mainstream fashion, Hogg’s eccentric aesthetic found fans among pop celebrities including Debbie Harry, Siouxsie Sioux, TV presenter Paula Yates and The Cult frontman Ian Astbury. The catsuit is undoubtedly the item Hogg is most known for, having created chevron striped all-in-ones for stars including Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga and Rihanna to name a few. “Every woman who has ever worn my catsuit has said, ‘Oh my God, I can’t wear that’,” she told Guardian In 2018. “I always tell them to try it. When they do, they immediately feel empowered.”
Hogg may be gone but she has left an indelible mark on fashion. His designs – which seamlessly and fearlessly combine fashion, punk and fetish – will continue to influence generations after generations, just as they have before. In a statement released today, the Hogg family concluded their tribute by saying that “Pamela will live on in our hearts and minds” because of the “wonderful life she lived and loved” – a touching sentiment that will certainly be felt in the fashion industry and beyond.
<a href=