David Bolton angrily attacked the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF) for forcing the cashmere company and its UK trading subsidiaries into administration.
Dawson's shares were suspended on AIM last week as the costs of funding the group's defined benefit pension scheme became unsustainable.
Administrators from KPMG were appointed last night but do not plan to make any redundancies at the moment.
Mr Bolton told The Herald he expects the Barrie arm to survive, although he was not yet involved in attempts to buy the company.
He said: "I believe there is already sufficient interest in the Barrie business for it to have some guarantee of a good future. Jim Carrie, the managing director, is a great guy and I have every confidence he will be able to steer it going forward.
"I just hope the administration is kept to a minimum so certainty for the employees, customers and suppliers can return in as short a time as possible.
"I would be absolutely amazed if there was not serious interest expressed in buying it by a number of parties. It is a great business and I hate to think the PPF have damaged it."
The US knitwear business, Dawson Forte, is not hit by the administration.
Dawson, once owner of names like Pringle and Ballantyne and of significant US operations, is responsible for funding a scheme which has around 3320 members, although only 56 of these are active.
In July, Dawson failed to agree a rescue package for the scheme with the PPF, which provides compensation to members of eligible schemes where there is a qualifying insolvency.
Around 1900 former Dawson employees who are working for other companies are facing cuts of at least 10% in their pensions.
Gary Fraser and Blair Nimmo, from KPMG, were appointed as administrators of Dawson International, Dawson International Trading Limited and Dawson International Holdings (UK) Limited.
Mr Nimmo said: "We do see there being quite a lot of interest and will try to sell the business as a going concern. This is a business with a long trading history which has been profitable in the recent past. Already two or three parties have indicated an interest."
The last published deficit on the fund was £11m. Dawson made a £550,000 profit last year after paying £2.2m pension costs.
Dawson proposed making a one off payment to the Pension Protection Fund and awarding it a 33% stake in the group in the hope this would allow it to trade through its difficulties however, the fund refused.
Mr Bolton added: "Longer life expectancy increases pension obligations, while returns on assets are currently reduced. Companies need help. Instead, they are penalised.
"In the last four years Dawson has made deficit payments of some £4m but, in addition, has been obliged to fund £5m of pension related fees and levies.
"There are no winners other than advisers who profit. It benefits no one to have companies fail."
