An object I found that correlates very well with the exhibition’s mission statement is the Tabi boot. When I first saw this boot while scrolling through my Instagram timeline, I was very intrigued by its shape because it has a design I have never seen anywhere else -I even thought it was quite ugly at the time because appears so bizarre. Apart from the toe detail which makes it look almost like pig feet, the Tabi boot is essentially just another pair of black booties. However because of this eccentric detail on the boot, it is what made it become a classic in the fashion industry. More than two decades after the Tabi boot was born, the style has still never been copied before. The boot has become so iconic in the fashion industry that if another shoe even slightly resembled the Tabi, it would immediately just be seen as a knock-off or a shoe that wants to be the Tabi but can’t.
These boots definitely require an acquired taste because it so closely resembles the Tabi sock worn by the Japanese dating back to the 15th century, since it is Margiela’s main inspiration for the boot anyway. It hugs the big toe and separates it from the rest which is very different from all other shoes. Since I’ve never tried a pair of these, I can’t imagine whether this toe design would make the shoe more comfortable or put your foot in excruciating pain. However, these are definitely eye-catching and attention grabbing -most fashion lovers’ goal. These boots have made such a large impact on the fashion industry that it is now recognizable by anyone knows about fashion.
