About Snekkerbuks
Learn more about our story, our values and about the Snekkerbuksteam.
Our Story
Snekkerbuks (Norwegian for “overalls”) was founded in 2012 by Kristin Maurer, an architect and textile designer from Amsterdam.
Kristin initially designed mud-proof leather pants for her own children. Her goal was to let the little ones play freely in nature, no matter the weather. Kristin was convinced not only by the design but also by the practicality and usefulness of the leather pants. She then went on to design additional bib-style leather pants in various colors and styles for family and friends.
The high demand gave her the idea for her business. After years of prototyping and practical testing, Kristin began selling her finished design in 2012. These durable outdoor pants became a hit and gained popularity as“pants to live in” – pants that kids can practically live in.
As new needs arose in her family life, Kristin developed designs to meet them: timeless and sustainable products inspired by her values of community, craftsmanship, family, and motherhood. Kristin and her Snekkerbuks team embody these values – both personally and for their brand – in the creation of every single product.
“I love quality. It really brings 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!
Ever since I was 13 , it had been my dream to become an interior designer: I always enjoyed creating furniture and many other things. Because my parents had a more “sensible” legal career in mind for me rather than a career as a designer, I began studying law at age 19 and later earned a doctorate in European law. Nevertheless, I continued to pursue creative projects in my free time . After 10 years in the legal field, I felt burned out and realized that my true passion lies in designing and creating – and how much I missed making things with my hands. So I decided to study architecture in the Netherlands, first at 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 founded my own label, 'Snekkerbuks'. In Snekkerbuks I combine all my passions: my role as a caring mother, my interest in entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and design. My initial goal was to ensure that my children could move and play freely in all (weather) conditions, so I created “clothes for life” that I couldn’t find anywhere else.
As my children grew, so did my craftsmanship and designs, which always reflected our changing needs as a family. One example of this is my latest design, which I created during the COVID-19 lockdown: a leather punching bag intended to help my daughters relieve stress and work out at home, while also blending elegantly into our living room – boxing in style!
These kinds of projects and innovative & creative ideas for tackling the challenges we face in our family life are what interest me the most; they take up both my work time and my free time, and they’re what I’d like to share with you here :-)
Handcrafted in Amsterdam
Every piece from Snekkerbuks is crafted in Amsterdam with great care and artisanal skill.
The founder, Kristin, taught herself to sew – with patience, a passion for materials, and a commitment to creating durable children's clothing and sustainable leather products.
She places particular importance on the mindful use of leather: Only sustainable, ecologically tanned leather from responsible sources is used. The leather is processed in small steps, always with an eye toward quality and practicality for everyday use. As a result, every product is truly handcrafted – on-site at the “ Snekkerbuks ” studio in Amsterdam.
Our Values
Community, craftsmanship, and family are values that are close to the hearts of Kristin and the entire Snekkerbuks team.
Community – Building Stronger Ties with Our Customers
Snekkerbuks originally became a community because the indestructible children’s leather pants were passed around within families and at daycare centers, being handed down from one generation to the next. 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 them. 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’d 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 sense of appreciation I need as a designer and maker: the joy of making others happy. I picture an old-fashioned studio where my customers come in and place an order – for something custom-made or in a specific color, tailored exactly to them. Of course, that’s not possible, but we try to help our customers with all kinds of questions and accommodate special requests (and every now and then we get postcards back from happy customers!).
The Importance of Craftsmanship
With Snekkerbuks, I want to foster a different way of thinking about clothing and accessories – one that places greater emphasis on the manufacturing process and gives meaning to the products. That’s why I handcraft all Snekkerbuks products in my sewing studio in Amsterdam. I love that my team and I are involved throughout the entire manufacturing process, from cutting and sewing to packaging and shipping. Design, sewing, pattern-making, marketing, and branding: all departments are equally important. For us, craftsmanship takes center stage and is reflected in every product we make. To see this for yourself, just take a look in the window of my ground-floor studio, where you can see products at every stage of production.
To me, craftsmanship isn't just about tradition – it's also about innovation. Sustainability is very important to me, and I hope that Snekkerbuks will contribute to a circular economy: not only by creating durable and timeless products from sustainable materials, but also through our free repair service and our "Pre-Loved" collection.
The Importance of Family
My family is involved in my business in every conceivable way: My children have watched this brand grow from the very beginning. They’re also the reason it was created in the first place! Many of the product designs and ideas I’ve created for Snekkerbuks reflect my family’s needs in specific situations: leather overalls, when my children were still small and needed clothing that could withstand any weather, and leather punching bags suitable for the living room, so my oldest daughter could stay active during the pandemic lockdown.
My children were always around in my studio, whether they were playing or curiously watching me work with all kinds of materials. That’s also why I decided to incorporate my studio into my home here in Amsterdam. Now the children even help out with some of the production steps.
Values in Work and Everyday Life
Overall, I try to live by 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 clients, my community, my team, and myself happy.
Want to learn more? Check out this interview with Kristin, where she shares more of the stories behind her values.
Meet the Snekkerbuks team!
Our " Snekkerbuks" team consists of Kristin, Wanda, Nora, and Stefanie. The four of us make up a strong and well-coordinated team.
Kristin is responsible for design and new product ideas, and she coordinates the company. Wanda handles the creation of patterns and all cutting. Ingeborg is our sewing expert; she makes sure every seam is perfect. Our newest team member is Stefanie! She is in charge of marketing and helps make our products even more visible both online and offline.
Nora
Hi everyone,
My name is Nora; I’m 25 years old and grew up in Amsterdam. Since September 2024, I’ve been happily working at Snekkerbuks — mostly helping out with sewing. I also work closely with Kristin on new product ideas—whether it’s brainstorming together or developing prototypes.
Even as a child, I knew I wanted to create and design things. When I had to decide on an apprenticeship at age 16, it was clear to me: It would be: creative crafts. In 2020, I graduated as a shoemaker.
In my own work, I focus on sustainability. 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 see that reflected in Kristin's work as well: the quality and sustainability of the products come first—I really appreciate that.
Starting your own label takes courage and a lot of perseverance. In my opinion, Kristin definitely has both—and she talks about it with such enthusiasm! I find that very inspiring, and I’m sure I can still learn a lot from her! :)
Wanda
Hello, everyone,
I'm Wanda, in my 40s and the mother of two wonderful sons. I met Kristin when we had our first babies, about 15 years ago. For Snekkerbuks , I handle the sewing patterns and cutting. On the side, I'm completing my training in “Cure Drawing.”
After 10 years of teaching at a high school, I decided to pursue a new path that would allow me to focus more on art. I love being creative and doing hands-on work.
It’s very important to me to work for a company that’s committed to sustainability. That’s why I’m so excited to work for Snekkerbuks —I can really feel that Kristin is infusing these values into the brand. Plus, it’s a small company, which suits me well since I’d rather not be surrounded by too many people. The work environment is much more personal.
Here I am today, enjoying working for a label that shares similar values and is constantly creative!
Stefanie
My name is Stefanie, I'm 53 years old, and I'm the proud mother of a 13-year-old daughter.
Kristin and I met in high school in Stuttgart and have remained close ever since. Although our career paths took different directions, we’ve always stayed in touch and have inspired and supported each other.
I studied sports economics and have been working in sports marketing and traditional marketing in Hamburg ever since. I am currently pursuing continuing education to become a coach and digital marketing manager.
I’ve always greatly admired Kristin for her passion for craftsmanship, sewing, and design, as well as for the concept and development of Snekkerbuks. I admire the thoughtful and sustainable products she creates—and above all, the fact that she had the courage to start her own business and is living her dream. Snekkerbuks is a truly wonderful creation that, 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 increase the visibility of our product line, improve our customer engagement, drive innovation, and thereby help ensure that the Snekkerbuks brand continues to grow successfully and sustainably.