EMPORIUM: An Albury City Touring Exhibition - The Rise of the 1950's Department Store

Published by: Yarra Ranges Regional Museum | 22-Jun-2016
Iconic Exbition at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. 27 July - 23 October 2016
Venue: Yarra Ranges Regional Museum
Address: 35-37 Castella St., Lilydale
Date: 27 July - 23 October
Time: 10am-4pm
Ticket: FREE
Web: http://ach.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Regional_Museum/Whats_On_The_Museum
: https://www.facebook.com/yarrarangesregionalmuseum/?fref=nf
Call: 03 9294 6313
Welcome to the glamour of 1950s fashion! Ladies and gentlemen, please explore and browse the shelves in Emporium, but men should avert their eyes in the 'delicates' department.

Emporium, on display at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum 23 July "“ 23 October, explores the rise of the department store, ready-to-wear clothing and advertising in the mid-20th century. Department stores opened across Australia in response to a rise in wealth, the evolution of shopping as a pastime and the changing role of women from homemaker to active consumer.

This iconic exhibition features merchandise and picture-based advertising material from Albury's iconic 'Abikhair's Emporium', established by Syrian immigrants Saad Milham Abikhair and his wife Shefia in 1928. When the Abikhair store was closing in the mid 1990's, Albury City was fortunate enough to acquire the complete merchandise and stock from the flagship Albury store for the collection. This included original merchandise and advertising material from previous decades, especially the 1950's.

The store owners and operators, Saad and Betro Abikhair, immigrated from Mount Lebanon and opened their Swift Street store in Albury in 1928 after arriving in 1895 as hawkers from Melbourne. At first, Abikhair relied on Melbourne manufacturers and wholesalers but eventually began importing and supplying goods himself. Goods on offer included girdles, stockings, clothing, household supplies, beauty supplies, toiletry supplies, sewing supplies (haberdashery), shoes, hats "“ and much more in the style of the emporium.

The purpose-built store had two entries, one each for men and women, which navigated patrons to appropriate sections of the store. As it was considered inappropriate for men to see, let alone purchase, women's 'unmentionables', the entry for men took them through sporting goods and men's supplies. Women were directed past the women's, children's, men's and household supplies counters before reaching the register.

This collection celebrates the 1950's beauty myth as stylised 1950's women promote toiletries, women's garments and even vacuum cleaners! This stunning marketing material demonstrates the context of the 1950s woman and the society they lived in.

Free admission. Open 7 days 10am-4pm. For more info visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/museum

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

School of Vintage
Talks and a workshop on the history and style of 1950s fashion.
Sat 30th July, 2016, 10.30am-3pm

School Holiday workshop: Hat-making with Clare James
Go classic or crazy with your own creative hat-making style.
Tues 20th September, 11am (5-8yr olds) & 12.45pm (9-12yr olds)

Public Talk: Dress, Memory: A personal history through dresses
Writer Lorelei Vashti explores her memories of early adulthood through the dresses she loves.
Sat 27th August, 2016: 11am

Workshop: 1950s Gin Cocktails with Four Pillars Distillery
Cocktails that would make Don Draper proud.
Sat 24th September, 2016, 3pm

Meet the Makers Open Day
Demonstrations and workshops all day by local artists and artisans who work with textiles, threads and wearable art.
Sat 22nd October, 2016, 10am-4pm

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