Would you steal these shoes? A brief history of the iconic Tabi
The heinous crimes of Tinder Tabi Swiper
This is a love story. Or is it?
Early this month, the online fashion community was shaken by the story of Lexus, a NYC fashion girlie who had her precious Maison Margiela Mary Jane Tabis stolen by Josh, her Tinder date, after a hookup. Shocked by the heinous crime and thirsting for justice Lexus took to TikTok, and thus the legend of the Tinder Tabi Swiper was born.
Maison Margiela
Tabi Mary Jane 60 Glossed Leather Pumps - Brown
Luckily for Lexus, her dramatic tale has a happy ending: Josh eventually returned the shoes, and our heroine was even gifted a fresh pair of Margiela Tabi pumps from fashion retailer SSENSE. Yay!
Maison Margiela
Tabi Mary Jane 60 Glossed Leather Pumps - Brown
Tabi shoes: a bit of history
The tabi silhouette, with the big toe separated from the rest, is one of fashion’s most iconic, recognisable, and polarising silhouettes.
But what’s so special about tabi shoes? What makes them desirable enough to steal?
Maison Margiela
Grey Blue Tabi New Ballet Flats
Japanese origins
Tabis were popularised in Western fashion by Belgian designer Martin Margiela, but have existed in Japan since the 15th century, originally as socks to be worn with traditional thonged footwear.
During the 20th century, Tabis became sneakers and running shoes and started gaining popularity thanks to businessman Shojiro Ishibashi’s rubber-soled Jinka-tabis sneakers, which maintain the classic sock-like shape, and the brand Onitsuka. At the same time, Nike debuts the iconic split-toe Air Rifts, still favoured by fashion insiders, sporty fellows, and senior citizens alike.
Nike
Sneakers Black
£150.00
Balardi
Nike
Air Rift Breathe Black/Cool Grey/White sneakers
£216.00
FARFETCH
Nike
Sneakers Silver
£150.00
Balardi
Nike
Air Rift sneakers - Black
£133.00
FARFETCH
Martin Margiela's take
Enter Martin Margiela and his eponymous brand’s first collection (SS89). Presented in Paris at Café de la Guerre, the collection featured the first Tabi ankle boots, whose soles were painted red in order to leave prints on the white carpet, that Margiela later used to craft a jacket. The unusual “hoof” silhouette was as controversial then as it is now, but the public was quick to catch on with the Tabi hype.
Maison Margiela
Leather Ankle Boots
Tabis today
Back to the present, Margiela offers a wide range of Tabi shoes, from knee-high boots to ballet flats, loafers, collabos with Reebok, and obviously the coveted Mary Janes. What makes them so special is their undeniable ugly-chic appeal, as well as their “the girls that get it, get it” cult status.
So, would you steal these shoes?
-74%
Maison Margiela
Low-Top Canvas Tabi Sneakers size 42
£153.68
£600.30
GLAMOOD
-22%
Maison Margiela
Leather Ankle Boots Brown
£485.00
£618.00
Balardi
-74%
Maison Margiela
Tabi Derby Shoes size 40
£163.80
£639.85
GLAMOOD
-29%
Maison Margiela
Boots Brown
£437.00
£618.00
Balardi
-45%
Maison Margiela
MM22 Leather TABI Ankle Boots Heel 8cm size 36
£478.57
£870.12
GLAMOOD
-40%
Tabi Footwear
high-top sneakers - Brown
£127.00
£211.00
FARFETCH
-45%
Maison Margiela
MM22 Solid Color Leather TABI Low Top Sneakers size 38,5
£314.21
£571.29
GLAMOOD
Tabi Footwear
tabi-toe mules - Black
£193.00
FARFETCH