Stand On Two Toes

In time with Maison Margiela's first ready-to-wear boutique opening in Singapore, I mused on the innocent romanticism of the most recognisable footwear in fashion: the Tabis.

- WORDS KELLY LEWI PHOTOS MAISON MARGIELA

WHEN I WAS STUDYING IN UNIVERSITY, it was common for people to wear Tabis around campus.

Back then, I unfortunately was not fractionally as stylish as I attempt to be today, and in my obliviousness, I had no clue what made the Tabi so popular. The shoes came in all shapes and sizes, colours, and conditions. Some were pristine, polished to shine from miles away. Some were scuffed up, though I could never quite tell if it was done on purpose in the name of aesthetics.

I thought the Tabi was a strange pair of shoes. I wouldn't call it unsightly—just unsettling. The split toe design reminded me of hooves, and not in the sexy, avant-garde sense. It didn’t help that everyone seemed to compete on what they could slot in between their toes: cigarettes, bills, and anything that screamed their love for cool subcultures. You were either in or out.