The (In)famous Tabi Shoe Now Has A Jutti Version, ICYMI

There are only a few things in the world that have as polarising opinions as the Tabi shoes. Pineapple on pizza, probably? Pretty sure even that doesn’t divide views quite as much as the Tabis.

Regardless of whether you’re a part of the Tabi shoe cult or not, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about them (or seen them repeatedly go viral online for their polarising design!). In case you’ve been eluded from the wild and wonderful world of Tabis so far, allow me to introduce you to one of the most controversial shoes in history.

They are split-toed shoes, where the big toe is separated from the other toes through a slit.

*History lesson* These shoes trace their origin back to 15th century Japan when they first began as split-toe socks to be worn with thonged traditional Japanese footwear, zori and geta. The thonged footwear necessitated the invention of the thonged socks. The socks-to-shoes transition took place in the 19th century, with the invention ofJika Tabi—similar to the Tabi socks, except they could be worn outside, due to their rubber sole. This was the Tabi shoe stemmed from.

Fast-forward to the 1980s, designer Martin Margiela drew inspiration from the Tabi during his trip to Japan and decided to launch his own version of the shoe. When he launched his own brand in 1989, he reinterpreted the Tabi shoe with the house’s debut show. The shoe has since then become a brand signature. The brand has come up with all kinds of variations of the shoe. The shoe had a very niche following initially, but vehement, nonetheless.

What started as a somewhat esoteric shoe, slowly blew up, thanks to mainstream celebrities like Zendaya, Dua Lipa, Kylie Jenner embracing the shoe (I would have much rather preferred it to remain niche though).

Tabis have a passionate fan base, and then some people hate them with all their might—going as far as comparing them to Crocs. Whether you’re a vehement lover of the Tabi shoe or think that it’s the ugliest shoe in existence, which side you’re on when it comes to the Tabi shoe tells a lot about you. And believe me, there is no in-between. As for me, I’m Team Tabi through and through. I often find myself on Farfetch or SSENCE looking for sales on Margiela Tabis. And there I am—staring at the Tabis, contemplating whether I should get these shoes or eat for the next month. Tough call. As I tackle my Survival vs Tabi dilemmas, I decide to skip the shoes for now. But with the Black Friday Sales around the corner, I’ll probably repeat it all over again.

Maison Margiela has dropped lots of versions of the Tabi over the years, and by now, we've seen pretty much every kind. Sneakers, loafers, boots, Mary Janes, slingbacks, ballet flats, and even pumps. The materials? Satin, fur, velvet, PVC—you name it. And every colour and print you can imagine. You can wear a pair of romantic pink satin ballet flats if you’re feeling particularly feminine. Or something more classic, like the black Tabi loafers. Or go for the Tabi pumps if you’re going for the glam-but-make-it-avant-garde vibe.There’s a Tabi for everyone—as much as it is NOT for everyone.

Now there is another version—a rather unexpected one—the Indian Jutti. That's right. Indian footwear brand Kilchu has amalgamated the good old Indianjuttiwith Japanese Tabi to create this one-of-a-kind shoe.

Akanksha Rathore, the founder of Kilchu explains that this shoe was birthed out of appreciation for the two cultures. “Tabis are symbolic of their (Japanese culture) form and cultural heritage. Similarly, in the East are our very ownjuttis—deeply tied to our rich South Asian traditions and craftsmanship. Tabi-juttirepresents the coming together of global traditions—and what better way to embrace a cultural quote that positions your roots on the world map, igniting curiosity and respect for diverse cultures worldwide.” she adds.

Given how controversial the Tabi shoes are, further experimenting with them can be considered a gutsy move, but apparently that was the last thought that crossed Akanksha’s mind. She tells us, “As a design house, we love creating statements, and our audience has shown a strong appetite for the unique, the strange, and the classic alike. We’re proud to have created a space where curiosity is valued over doubt. It’ll be a great waste of time to not use this space and create something different.”

Dear women, I suggest styling the Tabijuttiswith a subdued Indian outfit in order to let the shoe take centre stage. You can also have some fun and pair them with your pants! I would pair them with baggy jeans or bootcut jeans. Dear men, they have Tabijuttisfor you as well, so swap your regularjuttisand Kolhapuri chappals with Tabi Juttis when wearing kurtas. Better yet, you also pair them with your jeans!

So, if you’re new to the world of Tabi shoes, and getting Maison Margiela’s Tabis seems like too big of a splurge, you might want to get these Kilchu TabiJuttisinstead!