The Mods were an incredible 1960s youth sub-culture. Mod life provided an opportunity to rebel against the older generation and for young people to use their newfound financial and creative independence to escape into an identity based around music, fashion and drugs. Although taking their look from a diverse range of sources, Mods were quintessentially British in style and resolutely modern in attitude. The Mod look has remained a staple in the world of fashion for both men and women. This fashion exhibition focuses on the years 1958 to 1966, considering the influences on Mod look, its impact on youth culture and the enduring appeal of Mod style. Alongside full outfits, clothing and accessories, the exhibition will also include contemporary photography, film and ephemera tracing the origins, development and enduring appeal of the Mods. Roger K Burton, former Mod and founder of The Contemporary Wardrobe Collection is curating the exhibition in collaboration with Martin Pel, Curator of Textiles & Costume, Brighton & Hove Museums. The In Crowd: Mod Fashion & Style 1958-66 is supported by original Brighton Mod brand Ben Sherman, reaffirming its legacy as a brand synonymous with Mod culture. Their new Brighton flagship store will feature a striking window display in May that pays homage to the exhibition, reinforcing the connection between the brand, the city, and the Mod movement. Founded in Brighton in 1963, Ben Sherman has become a symbol of sharp British style, favoured by the Mod movement for its tailored designs and contemporary aesthetics. With its first store opening in Brighton, the brand has maintained strong ties to the city.

Whitehawk Woman’s skeleton, discovered in 1933, dates from the Neolithic period. Although we might therefore think of her as an ‘original’ Sussex resident, she herself was not born locally, and may have migrated from as far away as the Welsh borders. Bea Hitchman’s workshop will invite participants to interact with the recently developed Whitehawk Woman exhibit at the Museum, thinking/writing towards an understanding of her journey. What is possible to ‘know’ about her, and what is the role of the imagination in recreating her past? In this talk and workshop series, writers and academics Drs Hitchman and Jordan-Baker (University of Brighton) will explore stories of origin: how they get told, what they mean and how we might retell them. Focussing on early human origins and the ecology of ‘native’ and ‘invasive’ species, these events will look at both the science and the storytelling behind origins.

In this nature-writing workshop, Craig Jordan-Baker will use the fantastic settings of the Royal Pavilion Gardens to stimulate participants to think about the ideas of the ‘exotic’, as well as the more modest concept of the ‘weed’. Participant writers will be challenged not only to be reflexive about the categories we use, but to see the plants around us as the latest in the long and complex story of human ecology. About Origin Stories: Retold: In this talk and workshop series, writers and academics Drs Hitchman and Jordan-Baker (University of Brighton) will explore stories of origin: how they get told, what they mean and how we might retell them. Focussing on early human origins and the ecology of ‘native’ and ‘invasive’ species, these events will look at both the science and the storytelling behind origins.