A Maison Margiela Tabi costs $990 for the ballerina and $1,500 or more for the boot. Everything in this guide costs under $100, is vegan, and has the same split toe. To be clear about what this is: these are lookalikes in the sense that they share a silhouette that Margiela revived in 1988 from a centuries-old Japanese sock shape. They are not counterfeits and they do not carry anyone's stitching or label. Ours are our own designs, made by us, sold by us.
Most "tabi dupe" articles are about boots and point you at Amazon or AliExpress listings with no size chart and no returns. This one is organized by shape, because the person who wants a $70 tabi ballet flat is not the person who wants a $90 tabi boot, and it includes the two mid-price brands people compare us with.
Quick look: every alternative at a glance
| Style | Ours | Price | Upper | Heel | EU sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tabi ballet flat | Amelora flat | $68.99 | Smooth black | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi ballet flat, patent | Echo | $68.99 | Patent, black or wine | Hidden low wedge | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi ballet flat, polka dot | Colette | $48.00 | Dotted fabric | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi mary jane | Lena | $64.99 | Smooth black vegan | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi mary jane, buckle | Tabi Mary Jane | $78.99 | Crinkled black vegan | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi slingback flat | Claudia flat | $64.99 | Patent vegan | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi slingback heel | Daria heel | $68.99 | Black vegan | Mid | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi slingback heel | Claudia heel | $78.99 | Black vegan | Mid | 35 to 43 |
| Tabi block heel | Amelora suede heel | $69.99 | Plum suede-look | Low block | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi loafer | Rue | $72.99 | Black, monk strap | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi loafer, plain | Ashen | $68.99 | Black, no hardware | Flat | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi ankle boot | Isolde | $82.99 | Black | Block | 35 to 40 |
| Tabi boot | Daria boot | $88.99 | Black | Block | 35 to 41 |
Tabi ballet flats under $100
The Margiela Tabi ballerina is the shoe most people are actually looking for when they search "tabi dupe", and it is the one the boot-centric roundups skip. Three of ours cover the three finishes.
Amelora Black Leather Tabi Ballet Flats
The closest to the Margiela ballerina silhouette, with a rounder toe box. $68.99.
Echo Tabi Flats
Patent version with a hidden low wedge; black or wine red. $68.99.
Colette Polka Tabi Ballet Flats
The under-$50 entry point: polka-dot fabric tabi flat. $48.
Tabi mary janes under $100
Margiela makes a Tabi mary jane at around $1,000. Steve Madden has offered a tabi mary jane in some seasons. Ours are the everyday version: a slim strap on Lena, a buckle strap on the crinkled Tabi Mary Jane.
Lena Tabi Mary Jane Ballet Flats
Single slim strap, flat sole. $64.99.
Tabi Mary Jane
Buckle strap over a crinkled black upper. $78.99.
Tabi heels under $100
This is the emptiest category in the dupe market. Margiela's Tabi pump and slingback start near $990, and almost nobody makes a lower-priced split-toe heel. We make three.
Claudia Tabi Slingback Heels
Mid-heel slingback in patent vegan. $78.99, sizes to EU 43.
Daria Black Tabi Slingback Heels
Sleeker strap, elevated heel. $68.99.
Amelora Suede Tabi Heels - Plum
Low block heel in plum. $69.99.
Tabi loafers and boots under $100
Rue Black Tabi Loafers
Split-toe monk-strap loafer. $72.99.
Ashen Tabi Loafers
The plain slip-on split-toe loafer, no hardware. $68.99.
Isolde Tabi Ankle Boots
Ankle-height tabi boot with a rounded toe. $82.99.
Daria Black Leather Tabi Boots
The full tabi boot shape at $88.99.
The honest comparison: Margiela, Steve Madden, Jeffrey Campbell, Free People, us
| Brand | Tabi styles | Price range | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maison Margiela | Ballerina, mary jane, pump, loafer, boot | $990 to $1,790 | Calf leather | The original since 1988. Narrow toe box, runs small. |
| Steve Madden | Calico flat, tabi boots, seasonal heels | About $100 to $150 | Leather | The best-known mid-price tabi. Wider US last. |
| Jeffrey Campbell | Tabi boots and flats, seasonal | About $150 to $250 | Leather | Chunkier proportions; sold through Free People and Nordstrom. |
| Free People (Pit Lane and similar) | Tabi boots | About $150 to $200 | Leather | Boot-only; the fashion-retail option. |
| Lil Cacti | Flats, mary janes, slingbacks, heels, loafers, boots | $48 to $89 | Vegan | Widest range of shapes under $100; free shipping on US orders over $90. |
If you want calf leather and are happy above $100, Steve Madden's Calico is the sensible mid-price flat and Jeffrey Campbell has the best boots. If you want the widest choice of split-toe shapes under $100, in vegan materials, that is us. We would rather say that plainly than pretend the other options do not exist.
Sizing and fit for tabi alternatives
Ours run true to EU size; measure in centimeters and use the chart in our tabi sizing guide. If you own a Margiela tabi, order your usual EU size from us, not your Margiela size. Patent styles have no stretch, so size up if between; heels and boots, size up; flats and mary janes, size down.
Are tabis still in style in 2026?
Yes, and the reason the under-$100 category has grown is that the split toe moved from a niche avant-garde signature to a shape you now see in mainstream shoe departments. What has changed is the range: in 2023 the only affordable tabi was a boot. In 2026 you can buy the flat, the mary jane and the heel.
Frequently asked questions
Are tabi dupes legal?
A split-toe shoe is a centuries-old shape and is not owned by anyone. Copying a brand's label, logo, stitching or trade dress is not legal. The shoes here are our own designs with our own label.
What is the cheapest Margiela tabi alternative?
Our Colette polka-dot tabi flat at $48. The cheapest smooth-upper tabi flat in our range is the Amelora at $68.99.
Is Steve Madden's tabi a good Margiela alternative?
Yes, if you want leather and are comfortable at $100 to $150. Its Calico flat is the best-known mid-price tabi. It is a boots-and-flats range; for heels or mary janes under $100 you are mostly choosing between us and small independents.
Do tabi alternatives run small?
Ours run true to EU size. Check each product's size selector and measure your foot in centimeters before ordering.
Which tabi alternative should I buy first?
A smooth black tabi ballet flat or a tabi mary jane. They are the easiest to wear, the most comfortable on day one and the shapes that most resemble the Margiela ballerina.
Read next
- Which Tabi Flat Should You Buy First? Smooth vs Patent vs Satin vs Fabric, Compared
- Do Tabi Shoes Run Small? Sizing Guide by Style, With a cm to EU to US Chart
- Are Tabi Shoes Comfortable? An Honest Wear Test by Style (Flats, Mary Janes, Heels, Boots)
Browse every split-toe style in tabi heels and tabi flats or just the tabi heels.
Shop the pieces in this post
- Amelora Black Leather Tabi Ballet Flats
- Echo Tabi Flats
- Colette Polka Tabi Ballet Flats
- Lena Tabi Mary Jane Ballet Flats
- Tabi Mary Jane
- Claudia Tabi Slingback Heels
- Daria Black Tabi Slingback Heels
- Amelora Suede Tabi Heels - Plum
- Rue Black Tabi Loafers
- Ashen Tabi Loafers
- Isolde Tabi Ankle Boots
- Daria Black Leather Tabi Boots