Maria Høgh Heilmann celebrated Aiayu’s 20th anniversary by stepping onto the runway for the first time. At the Nils Stærk gallery, her guests saw effortless movement and quiet confidence in every piece. Aiayu’s designs aren’t trying too hard—they feel simple yet warm, living up to their name (which means “soul” in Aymaran, the language of Bolivia’s indigenous people).

Two decades after its 2005 launch in Bolivia, Aiayu now crafts its clothing there as well as in India, Mongolia, Nepal, and Europe. It was in South America that Heilmann—a former Neil Barrett designer with training in Danish fashion and Italian knitwear—found her vision for a different approach to fashion. “After years in the industry, I wanted to reconnect with craftsmanship, to feel the beauty of natural materials, and to work alongside those who truly understand them,” she explained.

The spring collection featured clean cotton shirt dresses, linen shorts, sweaters draped like scarves, and layered tanks over T-shirt dresses. While the pieces might seem straightforward at first glance, their quiet sophistication—like a sleeveless sweater paired with trousers in harmonious blues—takes real confidence to wear. These clothes fit seamlessly into bright, minimalist spaces because they’re made for real life—and meant to last.