//01.07.26// THE TABI ICON
Maison Margiela’s Tabi boot is the split‑toe icon that turned a radical runway moment into a cult object of desire. Introduced in 1988, the first Tabi boots left red, hoof‑like footprints on a white runway in Paris, instantly marking the arrival of a new avant‑garde aesthetic.
Inspired by traditional Japanese tabi socks and work shoes, Margiela reimagined the split toe as a heeled leather boot, challenging classic ideas of beauty and luxury. Loved and hated in equal measure, the Tabi quickly became a secret code among fashion insiders and remains one of the maison’s most recognisable signatures.
Over the years, the house has translated the Tabi into pumps, flats, sneakers and collaborations, without ever losing its bold, polarising character.
