Luxury British fashion brand Aquascutum has pushed the button on expansion plans and is set to open its first stand-alone stores overseas in the next year.

According to The Sunday Times the luxury brand will open stand-alone stores in Milan and Rome in the next 12 months. The brand has previously only been sold through concessions and licensing partners abroad, however a boom in the luxury sector means opening own stores could prove profitable.

According to reports Aquascutum could also be set to branch into casual clothing.

The brand, which is owned by Harold Tillman and Belinda Earl, former chief executive of Debenhams, also plans to open five stores in London with reports of a menswear only store on Jermyn Street and further stores on Bond Street, Marylebone High Street and the City

Retail Week revealed in May that Aquascutum is moving out of its flagship Regent Street store, with Austin Reed replacing it. Supergroup will move into the iconic Austin Reed store, giving the retailer a much sought-after presense on the famous shopping street.