L. S. Ayres & Company Hoodie / Sweatshirt
Celebrate the Ayres name and its place in Indianapolis life with this L. S. Ayres Hoodie / Sweatshirt. Founded in 1872, the firm became known for a landmark downtown store, fashionable departments, its Tea Room, and holiday displays that turned shopping into a seasonal tradition. Ayres later expanded into communities across Indiana and introduced the Ayr-Way discount chain. This keepsake connects former customers and retail-history enthusiasts with a company remembered across generations of Indiana shoppers.
Founded in Indianapolis in 1872 by Lyman S. Ayres, L. S. Ayres & Company began as a dry-goods store, first operating as N. R. Smith and Ayres. The Ayres name appeared in 1874, and the business moved to West Washington Street in 1875. Its eight-story flagship at One West Washington Street opened in 1905 and grew into a major downtown complex. Known especially for women’s fashions, its Tea Room, holiday displays, and value-focused basement store, Ayres later expanded into Indiana shopping centers. Acquisitions added Bressmer’s in Springfield, Illinois, and Kaufman-Straus and Wolf & Dessauer in Kentucky and Indiana. Its Ayr-Way discount chain began in 1961; the stores later became Target locations. Associated Dry Goods acquired Ayres in 1972. After The May Department Stores Company acquired that parent in 1986, Ayres locations were reduced and its Indianapolis flagship closed in 1992. The remaining operation joined May’s Famous-Barr division. Following Federated Department Stores’ acquisition of May in 2005, Ayres was dissolved on February 1, 2006, and folded into Macy’s Midwest. The L. S. Ayres name was retired on September 9, 2006, as most stores became Macy’s.
| S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| Width, in | 20.08 | 22.05 | 24.02 | 25.98 | 27.99 | 29.92 | 31.89 | 33.86 |
| Length, in | 27.17 | 27.95 | 29.13 | 29.92 | 31.10 | 31.89 | 33.07 | 33.86 |
| Sleeve length from center back, in | 33.50 | 34.50 | 35.50 | 36.50 | 37.50 | 38.50 | 39.50 | 40.50 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
Product features
- 50/50 cotton-poly mid-weight (8.0 oz) for warmth and soft handfeel
- Tubular knit (no side seams) for cleaner lines and less waste
- Double-lined hood with color-matched drawcord and tear-away label
- Kangaroo pouch pocket for hand warmth and storage
- DTF/DTG printing and optional embroidery placements (chest, wrists) for durable graphic detail
Care instructions
- Tumble dry: medium
- Iron, steam or dry: low heat
- Do not dryclean
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Gildan 18500, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Warnings, Hazard: For adults, Made in Bangladesh
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: medium, Iron, steam or dry: low heat, Do not dryclean