Pam Hogg’s unique approach will inspire the next generation of young people in Paisley

● Museum curator and senior councillor celebrate fashion designer who created looks for global stars

● Her life will be celebrated at the transformed Paisley Museum, of which she was a patron

The unique legacy of globally-renowned Paisley designer and artist Dr Pam Hogg will inspire the next generation of creative talent, her proud home community says.
Tributes have poured in from across the fashion world and beyond for the designer, musician, artist and DJ following her death at St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, London, on November 26.

Born in Paisley, Pam grew up in Renfrew and Glasgow before building a career that would see her create looks for the likes of singers Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue, as well as a host of supermodels.

Her creativity was rooted in her upbringing – a fact that will be celebrated in a special display celebrating her life and career in the transformed Paisley Museum when it reopens next year.

She was a patron of the Paisley Museum Re-Imagined project and had been working with its team on the display in recent years.

Catriona Baird, Curator of Textiles at Paisley Museum, said: “Pam was hugely enthusiastic and excited about the regeneration of Paisley and the redevelopment of Paisley Museum.

“Sadly she won’t see the final display that celebrates her life and work. However she had the pleasure of knowing that her work is now included in the permanent collection of Renfrewshire museums.

“We have no doubt that her work, determination and unique approach will continue to inspire and encourage the next generation of young people in Paisley – and beyond – to follow their own creative ideas and directions.

“As Paisley Museum joins those now celebrating her legacy we remain, above all, extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Pam to create a lasting tribute to her life and her work. We look forward to sharing this with the public when we reopen.”

Undeterred by growing up in a family with limited means, Pam’s creative spirit emerged from a young age, when she began making clothes from hand-me-downs – and her father’s creativity was a constant source of inspiration for her growing up.

While a pupil at the John Neilson Institution in Paisley, Pam would visit Paisley Museum in her lunch breaks, describing it as a “dark treasure trove”, and marvelling at the Paisley patterned shawls and historic looms. She reminisced about passing the town’s old mill buildings on the way to visit her grandmother as a child.

Such visits fired her imagination and deepened her love of art. She studied at Glasgow School of Art, before moving to London and the Royal College of Art.

Known for her fearless individuality, Pam’s PVC and Lycra catsuits became symbols of empowerment, worn by celebrities. She also fronted bands, exhibited her work internationally and returned to the catwalk in 2009 after a decade focused on music. Examples of her unique designs are held in major museum collections around the world, including the V&A and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In 2019, she celebrated Paisley’s heritage with her Best in Show London Fashion Week collection, featuring her Paisley Poodle digital print fabric inspired by the iconic pattern. Paisley Museum was able to acquire the Paisley Poodle finale dress and headdress from this collection for Renfrewshire Museum’s permanent collection.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes is Chair of leisure and cultural charity OneRen, which operates Paisley Museum, as well as being Renfrewshire Council’s spokesperson for culture.

She said: “Despite global acclaim, Pam Hogg continued to be immensely proud of her Scottish – and Renfrewshire – roots.

“Her home town was also immensely proud of her. Pam’s achievements are a powerful reminder about the defining impact of creativity, vision and determination.

“It’s an honour for us that we will be able to tell her story as part of the transformed Paisley Museum – made even more special by the fact that she has helped us to tell it. We hope it will encourage others to follow their dreams, as Pam did. And we’re determined that Renfrewshire will continue to provide a culturally rich environment in which those dreams can flourish.”

Pam Hogg’s signature catsuits have been worn by Debbie Harry, Siouxsie Sioux, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga

Pam said of her signature catsuits: “Every woman who’s ever tried on my catsuits says, I can’t wear that! I always tell them to just try it on. When they do, they instantly feel empowered.”