The Apaches were a notorious youth subculture prominent in the working-class neighborhoods of Paris, such as Belleville and Ménilmontant, during the Belle Époque (c. 1890s–1914). The name, a pejorative term coined by the press around 1902, compared their perceived savagery to that of the Native American Apache tribes and was used to describe young street toughs, petty criminals, and gang members. The Apaches cultivated a distinct identity defined by a specific style of dress, slang, and a defiant, anti-bourgeois attitude.

Their fashion included flared trousers, striped jerseys, red flannel sashes, and casquette caps, worn with a deliberate swagger. They were also associated with a unique style of street fighting and specific weaponry, such as knives and the custom-made "Apache revolver."

The French media created a moral panic around the subculture, frequently exaggerating their numbers and sensationalizing their street fights and criminal activities, which cemented their status as a legendary part of Parisian urban folklore. This romanticized image, especially their dramatic partner dance known as the valse chaloupée or "Apache Dance," went on to influence early 20th-century popular culture, appearing in films and stage performances worldwide.

The Apaches were a youth subculture in Paris whose identity was largely defined by the city's press during the Belle Époque. The name itself, popularized by journalists around 1902, was a pejorative allusion to the Native American Apache tribes, used to cast the city's street youths as "savage." The subculture was composed of young men, often from the impoverished working-class districts of eastern Paris, who formed territorial gangs for solidarity and survival. They were known for their involvement in petty crime, street fights, and a specific ambush tactic for robbing pedestrians. The French media fueled a moral panic around them, sensationalizing their activities and cementing their legendary status, a phenomenon amplified by the public rivalry over the famous courtesan Casque d'Or. The subculture largely disappeared with the outbreak of World War I, as many members were conscripted into the army or sent to penal colonies, such as French Guiana, though their romanticized image persisted in popular culture.

The Apache style was a deliberate statement of identity, a carefully constructed uniform that distinguished its members from both the bourgeoisie and the ordinary working class. It was a look that conveyed swagger and street pride, blending practical worker's garments with distinctive, stylized elements. The goal was to be well-dressed on their own terms, creating a look that was immediately recognizable within their own milieu but could also allow them to blend in when necessary.

The typical Apache outfit consisted of several key pieces. Over a striped jersey or a colored shirt, they wore either a blue worker's jacket ( bourgeron ) or a short, fitted black jacket. Their most iconic garment was the trousers, particularly the flared, elephant-leg style known as the "Bénard," which was tight at the thigh and wide at the ankle. These were held up by a wide, red or blue flannel sash ( ceinture de flanelle ) tied around the waist. For footwear, they favored polished boots or distinctive yellow shoes, sometimes adorned with golden buttons.

Headwear was essential, with the casquette (cap) being the most common choice. The specific style, from a soft, wide-visored "Deffe" cap to a flatter "Panet" style, could vary by neighborhood and signify allegiances. The scarf, usually red and knotted around the neck, was another crucial accessory, used for both style and as an improvised weapon. Jewelry was also popular, particularly rings. While younger members might wear cheap trinkets, more established Apaches wore heavy rings, often with skull or monster motifs, to signify their status. A cigarette, often unlit, dangling from the lips was a final, defiant accessory.

Apache hairstyles were also distinctive, with popular styles including hair kept long on top and short at the neck, or pomaded and combed into a specific shape with a curl on the temple. Tattoos were also common, often displaying anarchist slogans like "Vive l'Anarchie" ("Long Live Anarchy") or other symbols of their rebellious and anti-authoritarian stance.

The Apache subculture was associated with distinctive weaponry designed for street fighting and intimidation. The most famous of these is the Apache revolver, a multi-use firearm invented in the 1860s that combined a pinfire pepperbox revolver with a retractable knuckle duster for a grip and a rudimentary folding dagger. Lacking a proper barrel and sights, the weapon was inaccurate at a distance but effective for close-quarters combat and could be easily concealed. In addition to this specialized firearm, Apaches commonly used a type of long knife known as the surin. This knife was characterized by its distinct, pistol-like curved grip, a design that shared similarities with some traditional regional knives from the Pyrenees.

The subculture is famously associated with the Apache dance , known in French as the valse chaloupée , a highly dramatic partner dance that became a sensation in Parisian music halls around 1908. While its creation is debated, with figures like Max Dearly and the singer Mistinguett both credited, the dance is a theatrical representation of a violent argument between a male Apache gangster (often a pimp) and a woman. The choreography is intense and seemingly brutal, with the man appearing to throw, drag, and strike the woman, who in turn fights back before the conflict resolves into a rhythmic waxltz. Despite its depiction of violence, the dance was interpreted by some contemporaries as a raw and complex expression of passion, and even a form of female empowerment, showing a dynamic struggle rather than a simple victimization of women. Its shocking and dramatic nature made it a popular act on stages worldwide and a recurring feature in films.

The Apaches used a specific argot, or slang, to communicate and solidify their group identity, setting themselves apart from both mainstream society and other criminal groups. This slang was a rich and inventive language of the Parisian streets, drawing from older argots but with its own unique vocabulary. Terms were created to describe everything from their criminal activities and tools to the police and their victims. For example, the head was called the " sorbonne ," a knife was a " surin " or " eustache ," and money was " pèze ." This specialized language was a key part of the "Apacherie"; the lifestyle and attitude of the subculture.