- Ballerina mule shoe - External elastic band - Worn treatment - Handmade leather folds - Cotton knot at the front - White stitching at the back - Maison Margiela logo on the sole
Maison Martin Margiela, known as the "master of deconstruction," is regarded as one of the most influential designers in fashion alongside Rei Kawakubo. He was once the assistant to Jean-Paul Gaultier and served as the creative director of Hermès from 1997 to 2003. Despite his reclusive nature and refusal to appear in public or give interviews, his avant-garde and mysterious style continues to inspire new generations. Margiela is renowned for his deconstructed aesthetics, transforming ordinary garments into innovative pieces—like turning a blazer into a dress or a coat into shorts. Early collections didn’t even bear a visible logo, reflecting his belief that design should speak for itself, free from branding.
In 1988, the brand debuted its iconic “Tabi Boots,” inspired by traditional Japanese split-toe socks. To make a bold statement, the soles were dipped in red paint, leaving “bloody” footprints on the white runway—creating a legendary fashion moment. Today, current creative director John Galliano continues to evolve the Tabi line, expanding its materials, forms, and even introducing it to menswear, further pushing the brand’s gender-fluid vision and cementing the Tabi boots as one of Maison Margiela’s most iconic designs.