[2] In an interview for the magazine Drapers, former Moss Bros managing director Manny Silverman described Ingram as "one of the leading commercially innovative retailers of the 1960s; always a leader, never a follower.

"[3] John Michael Ingram was born into a fashion family; his parents owned the King's Road store Wakeford's, which specialised in dressing debutantes and their mothers.

[1] He left school at 16 and joined the family firm as a buyer, demonstrating a keen eye for ensuring Wakeford's brand identity and in sourcing textiles.

Its clothes were also worn by the London creative set, including David Hockney, Francis Bacon, and Peter Cook; although Alan Bennett and Malcolm McLaren were not persuaded, McClaren described the Sportique style as "a bit too subversive".

[1] During 1965, the John Michael empire became a PLC with 17 stores and was a flag-bearer for Swinging London, stocked alongside Mary Quant in J.C. Penney, as well as being exported across Europe and to Japan.