Maison Margiela presents A Tabi Film, premiering in October 2025. This cinematic journey delves into the heart of one of the house’s most iconic symbols: the Tabi shoe. The film explores the craftsmanship, philosophy and lasting impact of the split-toe design that has characterised Maison Margiela’s avant-garde aesthetic since its introduction by Martin Margiela in 1989.
Through meticulous cinematography, A Tabi Film traces the creation of a single pair of Tabi, from the first sketch to the final stitch. Each stage of the process unfolds as a ritual of precision and devotion — from carving the wooden mould and preparing the base, which alone can take up to four hours, to the delicate hand-stitching that completes each shoe. Eleven artisans, each a master of their craft, contribute to the making, ensuring a level of artistry that transcends industrial production.
The film highlights the artisans’ unique gestures — the way leather is folded, the sound of thread pulling through fabric, the final white stitch that marks every Maison Margiela piece. Together, these movements form a choreography of creation that speaks to the Maison’s ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation.
Archival footage interwoven throughout A Tabi Film revisits the shoe’s earliest appearances on the runway and in culture, positioning it as more than a fashion object — as a vessel of memory, identity, and transformation.
Ultimately, A Tabi Film is less a documentary than a meditation: a visual essay on endurance, heritage, and the quiet perfection of human hands at work. In capturing the soul of the Tabi, Maison Margiela reaffirms that true craftsmanship, like the split toe itself, stands apart — timeless, singular, and unmistakably Margiela.
Courtesy of MAISON MARGIELA
