What once started on a random Monday as MakersMonday has grown into a phenomenon in the sneaker world: Studio Hagel. Founded by Mathieu Hagelaars as a creative outlet, the studio is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with a big celebration.
During the last weekend of August, various workshops, events, and an exhibition will take place in the heart of Amsterdam, offering an exclusive glimpse into the studio’s designs. A real first.
Studio Hagel
A few days before the three-day celebration, we visit Studio Hagel in Amsterdam. Mathieu opens the door and leads us to his studio. “Don’t be shocked, we’ve gathered all the MakersMondays, so it’s quite a mess,” he laughs.
The studio is exactly what you’d expect: sleek, minimalist, lined with posters of previous projects on the walls. The MakersMonday designs are stored in transparent boxes, stacked in a corner of the studio, giving us a glimpse of what to expect.
After browsing around, which is all too easy in Hagel’s studio, and having a cup of coffee, we quickly get into conversation.
#MakersMondays
“Ten years of Studio Hagel, yeah, it’s crazy how it turned out,” Mathieu begins. The adventure started in 2015, after previous job applications didn’t yield the desired result. With his experience in footwear, he decided to start his own venture. That’s how Studio Hagel was born, a creative playground where design and individuality take center stage. The iconic MakersMondays followed soon after.
The concept of MakersMondays is simple but powerful: Mathieu positioned himself as the worst sneaker collector in the world. “I kept missing the popular drops, so I started making them myself,” he explains. Every Monday, unique, often impractical sneaker designs were created, serving as a source of inspiration.
Holding a few MakersMondays designs in his hands, he recalls one of his first creations that went viral: a YEEZY Boost 350 made from a sock with a vacuum cleaner hose as the sole. “Far from wearable, but recognizable by certain design elements. That’s what MakersMonday is about: innovation and creativity,” he explains.
“With MakersMonday, we always look for innovation and push the limits. Many designs aren’t meant to be worn but serve as inspiration for future projects or brand collaborations.”
Creative Playground
The creative process at Studio Hagel revolves around curiosity and challenge. “I always set the bar high. I constantly ask myself: What do we do next? Everything I see, from art to construction materials, I try to translate into shoes.”
This freedom has led to collaborations with major brands like Valentino, ASICS, and Off-White, perhaps the most remarkable in Mathieu’s career. “I got a DM from Virgil Abloh asking if I wanted to work with him, without even knowing how big this job would be. It all happened fast; that same week, we were already developing samples for his show.”
Shortly after the runway, Mathieu was asked to design the entire footwear collection. “I had never designed a full collection before, but out of enthusiasm, I said yes. Unaware of what it would entail, but it was fantastic.”
10 Years Hagel
This weekend, some never-before-seen Off-White samples, along with dozens (if not hundreds) of other designs, will be displayed to the public for the first time. To celebrate Studio Hagel’s 10th anniversary, the studio offers an exclusive look at everything it has created over the years.
From August 29 to 31, a special exhibition will take place at Park Amsterdam, showcasing all MakersMonday designs, collaborations, and original creations. Workshops with brands like PUMA, ASICS, and Veja will allow visitors to customize their own sneakers Hagel-style or participate in a 5K run.
The weekend will conclude with a party at the Skatecafé, featuring performances by Jan Koster and EYCEE (B2B), DJ Europarking, Juja, Lamique, and Styn & Verity B2B LAZERGAZER. A well-deserved celebration for such a milestone.
Come Visit
Looking back on the past ten years, three words come to Mathieu’s mind: “Rollercoaster, playground, and also a challenge. In the next ten years, we’ll build on what we already do, like our MakersMondays. We also want to make our projects more tangible, so people can not only get to know our brand but also experience, buy, and engage with it.”
The anniversary weekend offers exactly that experience. The exhibition at Skatepark Amsterdam is free to visit from August 29 to 31, 2025, and promises an inspiring celebration of a decade of creativity, innovation, and design.
The workshops are already fully booked, but tickets for the party at Skatecafé are still available. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this. See you there.
