Tabi shoes evolved from 15th-century Japanese split-toe socks into durable jika-tabi, then bold high-fashion footwear reimagined by designers and celebrities.

Two beloved French fashion houses ... in a joint press release, "The Maison Margiela by Christian Louboutin collection ...

Tabi shoes, originating in 15th-century Japan as split-toe socks, have transitioned from functional workwear to a high-fashion statement, largely due to Martin Margiela's avant-garde designs.

To say the name Martin Margiela is to conjure images of stacked-heel tabi-toe boots and blank labels ... for few know what the Belgian designer—fashion’s invisible man—looks or sounds ...