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The Tabi Boot

Fashion

Martin Margiela premiered his signature ‘Tabi Boot’ in his first womenswear collection for Spring/Summer 1989, the split-toe leather boot perched atop a cylindrical heel was inspired by traditional Japanese one-toe socks that date back to the early 15th century.


Posted October 31st, 2017 By Colby Mugrabi

Margiela’s spring ’89 show transformed from avant-garde fashion spectacle into performance art when the Belgium designer doused his models in red paint, covered their faces with nylon and paraded them down a white cotton catwalk. The Tabi Boot-pattern-stained runway cloth smeared with red, tabi-shaped footprints was then cut and taped together to form waistcoats for the designer’s fall/winter 1989 runway show.

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