Pam Hogg was a fierce Scottish original — a rebel whose creativity burned bright and refused to be contained. She didn’t just break fashion’s rules; she rewrote them with courage, brilliance and a spirit that still ignites generations. This is our tribute to the woman who stitched defiance, beauty and unstoppable individuality into the fabric of culture.

Pam Hogg was pure creative voltage. Fiercely Scottish, fiercely herself, and fiercely uninterested in toeing the line, she became one of the UK fashion industry’s most unforgettable forces and international influence. From Paisley to the world stage, she stitched together a career defined by individuality, rule-breaking and a sense of drama that no one else could ever quite replicate.

Her work — that unmistakable collision of punk, glamour, art-school experimentation and DIY couture — dressed a generation of music legends. Björk, Siouxsie Sioux, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue and Taylor Swift found in her designs something rare: clothing that didn’t just adorn a performer but amplified them. A Pam Hogg catsuit wasn’t an outfit; it was a signal. When someone walked onstage in Latex or PVC by Hogg, the energy in the room shifted.

Behind the scenes, she was a grafter. She often fitted garments on her own body, not as an artistic statement but because she couldn’t afford a mannequin starting out. She worked with whatever materials she could get her hands on — turning market-stall curtains into museum pieces and transforming scraps into couture. Every stitch carried her fingerprint, her music, her stubbornness, her fire and sometimes the blood from her needle-pricked fingers.

Hogg’s roots mattered. Growing up in a free-thinking, creative family in Paisley, she carved out her own path early. Glasgow School of Art and later the Royal College of Art shaped her technically, but it was London’s club scene where she really exploded. At the Blitz club — the epicentre of New Romanticism — Pam’s handmade outfits didn’t just turn heads, they opened doors. Orders from club-goers and musicians poured in, leading to London boutiques, international commissions and magazine spreads.

But Pam was never a linear story. At one point, she walked away from fashion entirely to front bands, write music, tour America, and throw herself into film. When she eventually circled back to fashion, she arrived with the same raw, live-wire creativity as ever — showing in London and Paris with collection titles as uncompromising as the clothes themselves. When she did return to the London Fashion Week schedule in 2009, her show was the hot ticket of the season.

Her pieces went on to be exhibited in Kelvingrove, Liverpool and the V&A, testament to the fact that what she created sat somewhere between fashion, art and cultural artefact.

In Her Honour: Tributes from Scotland’s Fashion Community

Dr. Tessa Hartmann with the Scottish Fashion Legend - Pam Hogg

Dr. Tessa Hartmann CBE, Founder & CEO of Hartmann House

“It’s strange how loss has a way of jolting us into clarity. Pam’s passing has done exactly that. The sadness is immense; we’ve lost a true original, a rebellious Scottish creative whose spirit felt almost too bright for this world. But if we’re honest, life was never simple for her — nor for so many designers like her. They deliver unforgettable collections, earn the love of global press and celebrities, yet still grapple with the relentless challenge of simply making a living.

Unless you’re backed by a major luxury group, the fashion system can be unforgiving. And still, Pam — with that unmistakable voice and fierce creative energy — kept showing up. Season after season at LFW, where her front row remained the place everyone wanted to be. She was the creative’s creative: innovative, punk-spirited, unfiltered and visionary in her fabrics, her silhouettes, her storytelling. There was a real kinship with the late Dame Vivienne Westwood — two women cut from the same extraordinary cloth, admired far beyond our borders.

But her passing has made something else painfully clear: we must do more to support the brilliance of our creatives. It’s not enough to celebrate the jaw-dropping runways. We need to ask: how do we help them build, grow and endure? How do we protect the talent that shapes culture?

And so, it has reminded me of my own responsibility. It’s time to bring back the Scottish Fashion Awards — not only to champion the next generation, but to preserve the legacies of icons like Pam Hogg. To make sure they are remembered, applauded and woven permanently into our fashion history.

Pam, you were a diamond — a fierce, sassy Scottish force who left a mark no one can replicate. I’m proud to have known you. And I promise: the world won’t forget you, doll.”

Susan Hewlett, Brand Director, St James Quarter

“I was devastated to hear of the passing of Pam Hogg, my very first PR client (albeit during a university placement at a small agency), and an enduring source of inspiration throughout my career. Pam was a true original, a fearless creative whose influence on fashion will resonate for generations. Only in March, she graced St James Quarter as part of our Edinburgh STYLE programme, captivating audiences with stories from her extraordinary journey through fashion. I had hoped to welcome her back next year.

Pam was one of the last great characters in the industry: uncompromising, visionary and unforgettable. Her legacy will live on in every designer who dares to break the rules. And yes, I’ll never forget that infamous lap dance she gave Taggart on live TV during Wogan’s BBC teatime show — a moment that perfectly captured her irreverent spirit!”

Vixy Rae, Creative Director and Owner of Stewart Christie

"Pam Hogg was an icon and her designs are a bold celebration of individuality, merging punk spirit with high fashion, and always challenging the norms of style with every stitch. I was lucky enough to meet her a few times. Totally inspired by her, especially as a kind activist!”

Amanda Sullivan, owner of Sirene Womenswear Independent in Aberdeen and Brighton

“I worked for the fabulous Pam Hogg back in the mists of time. She gave me my first job in fashion and was never anything but kind, funny, encouraging, inspiring, straightforward — and SO beautiful she could take your breath away.

I worked on her stand in Hyper Hyper when it first opened, and in her Caledonian Road studio. I particularly remember working late into the night once, printing panne velvet with silver in a massive panic just before what may have been her first London Fashion Week show, because the real printers had messed up and printed everything upside down… It was a triumph in the end, of course.

Pam used to wait for me on the Circle Line platform at King’s Cross when I was on my way to the shop, and when the train stopped she’d throw bundles of fake fur, PVC, flouro jersey and velvet at me in the carriage, much to the bemusement of the other commuters, and we’d wave and shout goodbye, screeching with laughter.

Pam was a fashion pioneer who let no one stand in her way — always true to herself and her vision.

We lost contact for years, but I’m pleased to say we connected again more recently. The years melted away and we picked up where we left off. I had been looking forward to spending more time with her, and I’m so sad that will never happen.

She was a force of nature, and the outpouring of love and respect I’ve seen since yesterday for this formidable, exceptional, vibrant woman is testament to her and to her well-lived life.
She shone so brightly, but she has left this crazy old world far too early, and will be hugely missed by so many.”

Sarah Murray, former owner of award-winning Scottish boutique, Jane Davidson, now Luxury Fashion Consultant at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh

“Pam Hogg was one of Scotland’s most singular creative talents — a woman who embodied the courage and instinct that sit at the heart of truly great fashion. Throughout my years at Jane Davidson and now at Harvey Nichols, I’ve seen designers come and go, but Pam was different. She never diluted her vision, never softened her edges, and never stopped creating from a place of absolute authenticity.

Her work was a live wire — fearless, imaginative and always unmistakably hers — and it inspired so many of us working in Scottish fashion to trust our instincts and champion individuality. Pam leaves behind a legacy that will continue to spark creativity in Scotland and far beyond.”

Asta Petkunaite, founder and co-owner of vintage boutique, Pascal & Co

“Many moons ago, I lived in London in an old peanut factory in Hackney Wick with other artists, and our studios and living spaces rubbed shoulders with Pam Hogg. It was so inspiring to see her daily — and to say hello when I felt brave enough. Little old me was quite intimidated by her then; she was so iconic, on a fashion pedestal to me, and the epitome of cool and punk. I loved her authenticity and everything she had to say, the things she stood for and believed in.

It felt amazing — a real privilege — to walk past an occasionally ajar door to her studio and catch a glimpse of gold thread or exciting rolls of fabric, PVC, latex, leather scraps, tartan, feathers, studs… a fleeting look into the magic she was creating within the same walls. It's kind of unbelievable to me now, that proximity to such greatness. I hope she got to relish the recognition she so fully deserved.”

Pam Hogg: The Original, The Rebel, The Scottish Icon