Hipster (contemporary subculture): History and Key Facts

The 21st-century hipster is a subculture (sometimes called hipsterism) typically associated with urban millennials. The subculture is characterized by alternative fashion, lifestyle, and music. Hipster values are defined by claims to authenticity and uniqueness, but tend to lack authenticity and conform to a collective style. The subculture embodies a particular ethic of consumption that seeks to commodify the idea of rebellion or counterculture. Members of the subculture typically do not self-identify as hipsters, and the word hipster is often used as a pejorative for someone who is pretentious or overly concerned with appearing trendy.

The subculture is often associated with indie and alternative music. In the United States and Canada, it is mostly associated with perceived upper-middle-class white young adults who gentrify urban areas.

The term hipster in its present usage first appeared in the 1990s and became widely used in the late 2000s and early 2010s, being derived from the earlier hipster movements of the 1940s. Hipster culture became a "global phenomenon" during the early-mid 2010s, before declining from the mainstream by 2016–2017.

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