British Subcultures

In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture (whether distinct or hidden) which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong. If a particular subculture is characterized by a systematic opposition to the dominant culture, it may be described as a counter culture.

Mod (from modernist) is a subculture that originated in East London, England, around 1958 and the original mod subculture started to fade away around The significant elements of the mod subculture include fashion (often tailor-made suits); music, including African American soul, Jamaican ska, British beat music and R&B as well as Italian Vespa and Lambretta scooters.

The underground was a countercultural movement in the United Kingdom linked to the underground culture in the United States and associated with the hippie phenomenon.

Rockers, leather boys or ton-up boys are members of a biker subculture that originated in the United Kingdom during the 1950s. It was mainly centred on British cafe acer motorcycles and Rock'n'Roll music.

Teddy Boys (also known as Teds) is a British subculture typified by young men wearing clothes that were partly inspired by the styles worn by dandies in the Edwardian period, styles which Savile Row tailors had attempted to re- introduce in Britain after World War II. The subculture started in London in the 1950s, and rapidly spread across the UK, soon becoming strongly associated with rock’n’roll. Originally known as Cosh Boys, the name Teddy Boy was coined when a 1953 Daily Express newspaper headline shortened Edwardian to Teddy.