Tabi (足袋) are traditional Japanese socks worn with thonged footwear such as zori, dating back to the 15th century. [1] Japanese tabi are usually understood today to be a kind of split-toed sock that is not meant to be worn alone outdoors, much like regular socks.
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Tabi socks are still worn and widely available in Japan today, but they have evolved into a more shoe-like design called the jika-tabi, which features a rubber sole for outdoor wear.
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Tabi socks (simply tabi or 足袋 in Japanese) are a distinctive form of traditional Japanese footwear, instantly recognizable for their unique split-toe design.
Tabi are traditional Japanese socks featuring a separation between the big toe and the other toes. Looking at their history, we see that early Tabi were pouch-shaped footwear with no separation between the toes.
Explore the history of the Tabi boot, from 15th-century Japan to high-fashion runways and viral TikTok fame. Learn how its unique split-toe design made it a lasting style icon.
As Japan modernized during its Meiji Era, between 1868-1912, the traditional tabi design began to evolve alongside footwear preferences. This is where Western-style boots and shoes are introduced, leading to the development of jika-tabi, a rubber-soled iteration of the split-toe sock.