About Snekkerbuks
Find out more about our story, our values and about the Snekkerbuks team.
Our story
Atelier Snekkerbuks (Norwegian for "dungarees") was founded in 2012 by Kristin Maurer, an architect and textile designer from Amsterdam.
Kristin initially developed mud pants for her own children. The aim was to enable the little ones to play carefree in the great outdoors, whatever the weather. Kristin was not only convinced by the design, but also by the practicality and usefulness of the lederhosen. She went on to design more leather dungarees in different colors and versions for family and friends.
The high demand gave her the business idea. After years of prototyping and practical testing, Kristin started selling her completed design in 2012. These indestructible outdoor pants became a hit and popular as 'pants to live in' - pants that kids can live in.
As new needs arose in family life, Kristin developed the designs to match: timeless and sustainable products inspired by her values of community, craftsmanship, family and motherhood. Kristin and her Snekkerbuks team take these values to heart for themselves and for their brand in the manufacture of every single product.
"I love quality. It really gives me joy to wear clothes that are so well made that they stay beautiful, even when you wear them day-in and day-out."
- Kristin Maurer, founder of Snekkerbuks
Hi, I'm Kristin!
It has been my dream to become an interior designer since I was 13 years old: I always found joy in creating furniture and many other things. Because my parents had a "sensible" legal career in mind for me rather than a career as a designer, I started studying law at the age of 19 and later graduated with a doctorate in European law. Nevertheless, I continued to pursue creative projects in my spare time . After 10 years in law, I felt drained and realized that my true passion lay in designing and creating and how much I missed creating with my hands. So I decided to study architecture in the Netherlands, first at the TU Delft and later at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.
After the birth of my first daughter, who is now 15 years old, and her twin sisters, who are now 13 years old, I started my own label 'Snekkerbuks'. In Snekkerbuks I combine all my passions: my care as a mother, my interest in entrepreneurship, craftsmanship and textile design. My initial goal was for my children to be able to move and play freely in all (weather) conditions, and I created 'garments to live in' that I couldn 't buy anywhere.
As my children grew, so did my craftsmanship and designs, which always responded to our changing needs as a family. One example of this is my latest design, which was created during the Corona lockdown: a leather punching bag to help my daughters de-stress and exercise at home, while fitting elegantly into our living room: Boxing in style!
These kinds of projects and innovative & creative ideas for the challenges that our family life presents us with are what interest me the most, take up both my working time and my free time and are what I would like to share with you here:-)
Craftsmanship made in Amsterdam
Every single Snekkerbuks item is made with great care and craftsmanship in Amsterdam.
Founder Kristin is self-taught in sewing - with patience, enthusiasm for materials and the desire to create durable clothing for children and sustainable leather products.
The conscious use of leather is particularly important to her: only sustainable, ecologically tanned leather from responsible sources is used. Processing is carried out in small steps, always with an eye on quality and suitability for everyday use. Every product is made by hand - on site in the Snekkerbuks studio in Amsterdam.
Our values
Community, craftsmanship and family are values that Kristin and the entire Snekkerbuks team hold dear.
Community – Connection with our customers
Originally, Snekkerbuks became a community because the indestructible children's lederhosen were passed around the family and kindergarten, being passed down through generations. Although the exchange now takes place on a larger scale, it's still important to me to be able to connect with my customers personally. I want to know who buys my products, what they do with them, and whether they like the product. At the same time, my customers don't receive an anonymous, meaningless package; they know where, how, and by whom their new product was made.
I would love to meet my customers in person and hear their stories and experiences with my products! The feedback, stories, and personal messages or meetings often give me the motivation and appreciation I need as a designer and manufacturer: happy to make others happy. I imagine an old-fashioned studio where my customers come and order something, made to measure or in a specific color, tailored just for them. That's not possible, of course, but we try to help our customers with all kinds of questions and accommodate special requests (and occasionally we receive postcards back from happy customers!).
The importance of craftsmanship
With Snekkerbuks, I want to cultivate a different way of thinking about clothing and accessories, one that gives more meaning to the manufacturing process and gives the products a sense of purpose. That's why I make all Snekkerbuks products by hand in my sewing studio in Amsterdam. I love that my team and I are present throughout the entire manufacturing process, from cutting and sewing to packaging and shipping. Design, sewing, pattern cutting, marketing, and branding: all departments are equally important. Craftsmanship is at the forefront of our work and can be found in every product we make. To see this for yourself, you only have to take a look in the shop window of my ground-floor studio, where you can see products in all stages of production.
For me, craftsmanship means not only tradition but also innovation. Sustainability is very important to me, and I want Snekkerbuks to contribute to a circular economy: not only by producing durable and timeless products from sustainable materials, but also through a free repair service and our pre-loved collection.
The importance of family
My family is involved in my business in every way possible: My children have watched this brand grow from the very beginning. They are also the reason it was created! Many product designs and ideas I created for the Snekkerbuks products reflect my family's needs in specific situations: leather overalls when my children were young and needed a garment that could withstand all weather conditions, and leather punching bags suitable for the living room so my eldest daughter could stay active during the pandemic quarantine.
My children were always there in my studio, whether playing or curiously observing my work with all kinds of materials. This is also the reason why I decided to integrate my studio into my house here in Amsterdam. Now, the children even help with some of the production steps.
Values in work and everyday life
Overall, I try to live these values in my work and everyday life. I don't aspire to become a big brand, and I don't need to get rich. I'd much rather continue working on a small scale, stay true to my own values, and make my customers, my community, my team, and myself happy.
Want to learn more? Read this interview with Kristin , where she shares more of the stories behind her values.
Get to know the Snekkerbuks team!
Our Snekkerbuks team consists of Kristin, Wanda, Nora and Stefanie. The four of us form a strong and well-coordinated team.
Kristin is responsible for design and new product ideas and coordinates the company. Wanda takes care of making patterns and all the cutting. Ingeborg is our sewing expert, she makes sure that every seam is perfect. Our newest team member is Stefanie! She is responsible for marketing and helps to make our products even more visible both online and offline.
Nora
Hi everyone,
I am Nora, 25 years old and grew up in Amsterdam. I've been working at Snekkerbuks since September 2024 and I really enjoy helping out with the sewing. I also work closely with Kristin when it comes to new product ideas - whether it's brainstorming together or developing prototypes.
Even as a child, I knew that I wanted to create and design things. When I had to decide on an apprenticeship at the age of 16, it was clear to me that I would do it: creative craftsmanship. In 2020, I graduated as an artisan shoemaker.
Sustainability is the focus of my own work. I use techniques that ensure my products last a long time and can be repaired again and again. I prefer to work with natural materials - and I also like to reuse them.
I also find this in Kristin's work: the quality and sustainability of the products are paramount - I really appreciate that.
Starting your own label takes courage and a lot of stamina. Kristin certainly has that in my eyes - and she can talk about it so enthusiastically! I find that very inspiring and I'm sure I can still learn a lot from her! :)
Wanda
Hello everyone,
I am Wanda, in my 40s and mother of two wonderful sons. I met Kristin when we had our first babies, about 15 years ago. For Snekkerbuks I take care of patterns and cutting. I am also completing my training in "Cure Drawing".
After 10 years of teaching high school, I decided to go in a new direction where I can focus more on art. I love being creative and doing practical work with my hands.
It's very important for me to work for a company that is consciously committed to sustainability. That's why I'm so excited to work for Snekkerbuks, because I really feel that Kristin incorporates these values into the brand. It's also a small company, which suits me very well as I prefer not to be surrounded by too many people. The working environment is much more personal.
Here I am today, enjoying working for a label that shares similar values and is continuously creative!
Stefanie
My name is Stefanie, I am 53 years old and the proud mother of a 13-year-old daughter.
Kristin and I met at secondary school in Stuttgart and have stayed in touch ever since. Although our careers took different paths, we always stayed in touch and inspired and supported each other.
I studied sports economics and have been working in the field of sports marketing and classic marketing in Hamburg ever since. I am currently training to become a coach and digital marketing manager.
I have always admired Kristin's passion for crafts, sewing and creating, the idea and development of Snekkerbuks. The lovely and sustainable products she develops and, above all, the fact that she had the courage to start her own business and live her dream. Something wonderful has been created with Snekkerbuks, which in my opinion still has great potential.
I am very pleased to have been part of the team since 2024 and to use my marketing expertise to make the product range more visible, improve the customer approach, drive innovation and thus also contribute to the continued successful and sustainable growth of the Snekkerbuks brand.