Summary

Colour digital photograph of Zurlia Istiviani Usman (looking to camera) displaying clothing in her store House of EMAAN, the Muslim clothing and goods store in Sydney Road Brunswick, 2007, (the store, now EMAAN, relocated to Coburg). The photograph was taken by Museums Victoria photographer, Rodney Start, 2007 at the store's original site. At the time of the photograph Zurlia used her married name Ismail.

Zurlia Istiviani Usman arrived in Australia on a scholarship in 1988, followed soon after by her husband Gofar and daughter. Returning to Indonesia in 1992 after their visas expired they re-returned on temporary visas and obtained permanent residency in 1996. Zurlia opened an Islamic clothes store in Sydney Road Brunswick in 2003 (now EMAAN in Sydney Road Coburg) and since 2018 it has been managed by one of her five daughters Anisa who has evolved and broadened the business. During the 2020 pandemic, the family has adapted the kinds of goods sold, including becoming an international mask supplier using local ethical manufacturing for the first time.

Physical Description

Colour digital photo

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection provides an important insight into the development of small businesses catering particularly for Muslim communities, and more particularly women. It also documents how a small business has coped during the Covid-19 pandemic. The story also represents the contemproary migration and settlement story of a family of Muslim-Indonesian background.

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