Maison Margiela’s tabi shoes are some of the most iconic (and divisive) shoes around. The silhouette, which splits its toe in half, offers wearers the illusion of hooved feet. While other versions of the tabi exist — Nike has its Air Rift — none are comparable to Margiela’s version of the shoe. The high-end iteration retails anywhere from $610 to $1,720 and is in demand enough that people buy them off auction websites, often for inflated prices. Margiela didn’t invent the tabi, but it’s fair to say its split-toe shoes are a status symbol in their own right.
The luxury label proves not all tabis are built the same — but to Tabi Footwear, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The brand is revamping the split-toe shoe to benefit feet with a design based on the foot’s natural biomechanics, offered at a fraction of the cost of Margiela’s tabis, and made with recycled materials.
