No. Tabio is a Japanese sock and legwear company, and the Tabi is a split-toe shoe made by the French fashion house Maison Margiela. They are separate businesses, and we found no record of a collaboration between them. The names look alike because both come from the same word: tabi, the traditional Japanese sock with a divided toe.
The mix-up is common enough that search engines blur the two. Most pages that rank for these words are essays on the history of the Margiela shoe, with Tabio absent. Margiela flats cost roughly $890 to $1,090 and its boots about $1,290 to $1,490 in October 2026; Margiela also sells its own tabi socks, at around $110 to $195. This guide separates the three things people mean by "tabi", lays out who makes what, and explains which socks actually fit inside a split-toe shoe.
Tabio vs Maison Margiela at a glance
| Tabio | Maison Margiela Tabi | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A sock and legwear company | A shoe style from a fashion house |
| Based in | Osaka, Japan | Paris, France |
| Started | 1968, as a sock wholesaler | Shown in the debut collection, presented in October 1988 |
| Makes | Socks, five-toe and split-toe socks, tights, leggings, sports socks | Split-toe boots, flats, mary janes, heels, sneakers, plus its own tabi socks |
| Name comes from | Adopted around its London store opening in 2002 | The Japanese tabi sock |
| Typical price | Sock prices, varies by market | About $890 to $1,490 for shoes |
Three meanings of "tabi"
Tabi: the sock
A traditional Japanese ankle sock with the big toe separated from the others, worn with sandals such as zori and geta. The divide lets a thong strap sit between the toes. Tabi socks go back at least to the 15th century and are still worn with kimono today.
Jika-tabi: the work shoe
A tabi with a rubber sole, developed in the 1920s for outdoor work. Builders, farmers and festival carriers still wear them. They fasten up the back with small metal clasps.
Fashion tabi: the shoe
Martin Margiela took the jika-tabi shape and made it into a fashion boot for his first show, with the soles dipped in paint so the models left split-toe prints on the runway. Since then the split toe has spread to flats, heels, loafers and sneakers, sold by many brands. Our article on jika-tabi vs tabi shoes goes deeper.
Echo Tabi Flats
A fashion tabi flat in the ballet shape, the style most people mean today when they say "tabi".
Wren Eyelet Tabi Flats
Eyelet details on a split-toe flat: a newer take on the original idea.
Who is Tabio?
Tabio began in 1968 as a sock wholesaler in Japan and opened its first shop in 1984. The company adopted the Tabio name in the 2000s, after opening a store in London, and is now listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is known for socks made in Japan with partner factories, including split-toe and five-toe socks, sheer tights and sports socks. Tabio sells socks, not shoes.
So if you have seen "Tabio tabi" and assumed it was Margiela, the answer is: one is a sock brand that sells tabi socks, the other is a fashion house that sells tabi shoes.
Does Margiela make tabi socks?
Yes. Maison Margiela sells its own split-toe socks, at roughly $110 to $195 a pair in 2026, designed to go with its shoes. They are separate from Tabio's socks.
Do you need tabi socks for tabi shoes?
Not always, but they help. A regular sock folds across the split, bunches at the front and pushes the foot back in the shoe. A split-toe sock lets the big toe sit in its own section, so the shoe fits the way it was designed. You don't need an expensive pair. What matters is the split, the thickness and the height.
| Sock | Best with | Size effect |
|---|---|---|
| Invisible split-toe liner | Flats and heels where you want no sock to show | None |
| Ribbed crew, split toe | Loafers, flats with jeans or pleated skirts | May need half a size up in a fitted flat |
| Knee-high, split toe | Boots, mini and midi skirts in winter | Same as crew |
| Lace, split toe | Flats and mary janes with skirts | Usually none |
| Regular sock | Not recommended | Bunches at the split |
Invisible Tabi No Show Socks
A split-toe liner that stays hidden in a low flat, for when you want the shoe and not the sock.
Ribbed Crew Tabi Socks
Ribbed crew socks with a divided toe, in black, heather gray and milky white.
Knee High Tabi Socks
Knee-high with a split toe, for boots and skirts in colder months.
Scalloped Lace Tabi Socks
Openwork lace with a scalloped cuff, meant to show above a flat.
For a full breakdown of heights and fabrics, read what socks to wear with tabi shoes, and for socks vs five-toe socks, see tabi socks vs toe socks.
Tabi sizing with socks
A thin liner does not change your size. A ribbed or knee-high sock takes up a little room, so if you are between sizes and plan to wear thicker socks with a fitted flat, go up half a size. Most of our tabi shoes run EU 35 to 40, with some styles to 41 or 43. Our tabi sizing guide covers each shape.
Corinne Studded Tabi Flats
Studded split-toe flat: wear with a liner for a clean look or a crew sock for contrast.
Caring for tabi socks and shoes
Wash split-toe socks inside out on a cool, gentle cycle and lay them flat to dry, so the split keeps its shape and does not stretch. Lace and sheer socks are best washed in a mesh bag. For shoes, wipe smooth vegan leather with a damp cloth and let it dry naturally, and store with tissue in the toe so the split does not collapse. More in how to clean tabi shoes.
Tabio, Maison Margiela or Lil Cacti?
Tabio is a specialist: decades of sock making in Japan, a wide choice of fibers and a reputation for quality knitting. If you want a sock company that has done this for over 50 years, it is a natural choice. Maison Margiela created the fashion tabi, and its shoes and matching socks are the original, with the price and the craftsmanship of a Paris fashion house.
Lil Cacti sits between the two: split-toe flats, heels, loafers and boots in vegan materials from $48 to $88.99, and split-toe socks from $11.99. We are not Tabio or Margiela, and our shoes carry no logo or label from any other brand. Shipping is free over $90.
Elodie Lace-Up Tabi Flats
Lace-up tabi flat that pairs with any of the split-toe socks above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tabio owned by Margiela?
No. Tabio is an independent Japanese company listed in Tokyo. Maison Margiela is a French fashion house. They are not related.
Has Tabio collaborated with Margiela?
We found no record of a Tabio and Margiela collaboration. Margiela has worked with other brands on its Tabi, such as a Tabi sneaker with Reebok.
Who invented tabi shoes?
The tabi sock is a centuries-old Japanese garment, and the rubber-soled jika-tabi came in the 1920s. The fashion tabi boot was introduced by Martin Margiela in his first collection, shown in 1988.
What is the difference between tabi socks and toe socks?
Tabi socks split the big toe from the rest. Toe socks give every toe its own section. Tabi socks are the ones that fit split-toe shoes.
Can I wear regular socks with tabi shoes?
You can, but the fabric bunches at the split. A split-toe sock or liner fits better and feels more comfortable.
Read next
- What Socks to Wear With Tabi Shoes: Split-Toe Socks, Sheer Tights and the No-Sock Option
- Tabi Socks vs Toe Socks: The Difference, What Each Is For, and What to Wear Them With
- Jika Tabi vs Tabi Shoes: Socks, Work Boots and Fashion Split-Toes, Explained
Browse our tabi socks and tabi shoes.