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Clothing and Accessories
Men's Clothing ➔ Suit
Identifier:
200899Description:
This gray and white striped suit is made of wool and consists of two pieces that include a coat and trousers. The coat has three buttons down the center front and padded shoulders. It also has notched lapels and three buttons on each sleeve cuff. There is a flap pocket on either side of the waist and a welt pocket on the proper left breast. This coat has a center vent, a gray synthetic lining, and an interior maker label that reads "'Botany' 500 Brand, Tailored by Daroff, May's, Grand Rapids". The matching trousers have upturned cuffs and a zipper fly.Date:
circa 1961Materials:
Wool, Synthetic MaterialCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift Of Mrs. Martin ShedleskiRelated Entities:
Botany 500 (creator)Botnay 500 was a brand name owned by the Botany 500 Group of New York. Their men's suits and sport coats were manufactured in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Daroff and Sons, who were contracted by Botany Mills to produce products and later bought the firm outright. Daroff and Sons and the Botany 500 Group went bankrupt in August 1973. When Daroff finally shut their doors in December, Cohen and Sons bought the Botany 500 name and assets. The Botany and Cohen and Sons operations ceased production in 1986. Manufacturing of the Botany 500 name was outsourced to foreign countries.
For more information, please visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botany_500 Mrs. Eileen Shedleski (donor)
Alternate names: Mrs. Martin Shedleski A. May and Sons (sold by)
Alternate names: May's, Mays Of Michigan, The Giant
A. May & Son’s, also known as May’s of Michigan, was a men’s wear store based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The store was founded as the Giant Clothing Store by German merchant Abraham May in 1883 at Monroe and Lyon Streets, Grand Rapids and was nicknamed “the Giant”. After two years at the University of Michigan, Abraham's son Meyer May and other children in the family joined their father's business and the name of the store was changed to A. May & Son’s. It was the first store in the nation to display clothing on Batts hangers, an important first in the merchandizing of clothing. Meyer May became president of the company after his father's death in 1906. Meyer May and his wife Sophie Amberg were also known for their private residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Today the house is operating as a museum by Steelcase Inc. A. May & Son’s remained in the family until 1967, when it was purchased by Botany Industries. Norman Talmo, a former Botany executive purchased the store in 1972. The downtown store closed in 1986 and the building was demolished for parking in 1988.
Source: Michael Hauser and Marianne Weldon. Images of America, 20th Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, 2014.
