The Tabi is Maison Margiela’s signature split-toe shoe, first debuted in 1988. Inspired by the traditional 15th century Japanese sock bearing the same name, it has been continually reinterpreted across collections.

For Martin Margiela’s first-ever show, he transformed the traditionally flat shoe into a heeled boot and dipped the soles in red paint, allowing the boots to leave split-toed footprints as models walked the white runway.

Since its creation, the Tabi has been reimagined in multiple forms and materials, a canvas for the house’s innovation, continually evolving with each season’s inspirations.

A film directed by Yuri Ancarani offering an in-depth look at the craftmanship of the Maison Margiela Tabi, introduced in 1989 at our first show.

The film traces the journey of a pair of Tabi from concept to final assembly. In an artisanal process, every stage is carried out by hand. Preparing the base takes up to four hours, followed by the mould: cut from a block of wood, then stitching, and assembly. The practice gathers 11 artisans, each with their specific expertise, and each shoe is finished with a single white stitch.

A Tabi film documents technique and craft, capturing the shoe that endures over time. Footage from the archive depicts the heritage associated with the form that sets it apart.