L. S. Ayres & Company T-Shirt
Celebrate a familiar name in Indiana retail history with this L. S. Ayres & Company T-shirt. Lyman S. Ayres founded the Indianapolis firm in 1872, and its flagship at One West Washington Street opened in 1905. Shoppers remember Ayres for women’s fashions, the Tea Room, holiday displays, and the value-focused basement store. The company expanded across Indiana before its name was retired in 2006, leaving a story that still resonates with downtown shoppers and department-store collectors.
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.
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| Width, in | 16.50 | 18.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | 24.00 | 26.00 | 28.00 | 30.00 | 32.00 |
| Length, in | 27.00 | 28.00 | 29.00 | 30.00 | 31.00 | 32.00 | 33.00 | 34.00 | 35.00 |
| Sleeve length, in | 8.60 | 8.90 | 9.20 | 9.50 | 9.70 | 10.00 | 10.40 | 10.80 | 11.20 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
Product features
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton (lightweight 4.2 oz/yd²) for a soft, breathable feel
- Retail fit with crew neckline — neat, easy to layer
- Structural details: side seams, shoulder tape, and ribbed knit collar to retain shape
- Labeling and prints: tear-away label; DTF or DTG printing used for crisp chest and sleeve designs
- Ethically made blanks (Fair Labor Association, Platinum WRAP), REACH certified
Care instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Iron, steam or dry: medium heat
- Do not dryclean
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Bella+Canvas 3001, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Warnings, Hazard: For adults, Blank product sourced from Honduras
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Iron, steam or dry: medium heat, Do not dryclean