Edinburgh Woolen Mill boss and retail mogul Philip Day has brought in advisers to assess the sale of a number of his brands, after receiving unsolicited offers.

Day, who has led EWM for almost 20 years, has reportedly received seen interest in at least three of his brands – Jaeger, Austin Reed and Jacques Vert – from “international investors” including at least one in China, Sky News reported.

Day specialises in buying out struggling fashion retailers with the aim of reviving them, with the mooted investors keen to capitalise on the heritage appeal of these British brands. 

He is reported to have brought in help from FRP Advisory to consider the enquiries but has stressed that he is not actively looking to sell any of his brands.

The retailer made 100 members of its 25,000-strong workforce redundant in March but insisted that no formal restructuring or sale of a stake in the wider business are on the cards.

Day’s extensive list of acquisitions includes Jaeger, Peacocks, Jane Norman and most recently Bonmarché. The group operates around 1,000 stores across the UK.