Our values
Community , craftsmanship , family and motherhood are values that are close to Kristin (and the Snekkerbuks team) and therefore also to their brand.
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 and motherhood
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.