With A Tabi Film, Maison Margiela reasserts the importance of its founding emblem: the Tabi. Conceived as both a visual and cultural gesture, this short film directed by Yuri Ancarani revisits the iconic shoe through its symbols, craftsmanship, and legacy—at the intersection of fashion imagery and artisanal process.
Since its debut in 1989, the Tabi has embodied an instantly recognizable visual signature: a split-toe design inspired by traditional Japanese Jika-tabi socks. But beyond its shape, it reflects Margiela’s conceptual approach—anonymity, deconstruction, and ritualization of dress. Turning it into a film is thus a way to document not just an object, but a philosophy of fashion.
The film traces, in silence and gestures, the full journey of a pair of Tabis—from raw wood used for the mold to the final stitch. Each step is carried out by hand by a team of 11 specialized artisans, emphasizing a resistance to industrialization. The attention to craft mirrors the house’s visual language: precise, codified, and fragmentary.
Directed by visual artist Yuri Ancarani and narrated by Ermanna Montanari, the film leans into sensory abstraction. Image becomes material—close-ups, textures, and silent sequences elevate the Tabi into a fetish object. This perspective aligns with Margiela’s historical strategy: transforming design into coded iconography.
The film integrates footage from the house’s archive, contextualizing the Tabi through runway shows, performances, and imagery across decades. These fragments are not nostalgic but structural, stitching together a visual continuity that reinforces the shoe’s centrality in Margiela’s aesthetic vocabulary.
In Margiela’s case, absolutely. With its radical form, the Tabi functions as a narrative tool. The film presents it not as a product but as a symbol—an extension of the house’s intellectual framework. This affirms Margiela’s ongoing emphasis on artistic discourse over seasonal trends.
Because A Tabi Film offers a rare synthesis of gesture, memory, and image—restoring a cult silhouette to its full narrative power. It positions the Tabi not as footwear, but as the core of a fashion language.
At Maison Margiela’s Artisanal 2025 show, the runway wasn’t the only place to watch. In the front row and at the photocall, one accessory stood out: sunglasses. Not just any frames — sculptural, tinted, and radical designs from Gentle Monster, worn by the most photographed faces of the moment. sharp frames, sharper identities Style began […]
Maison Margiela x Gentle Monster 2025 unveils an exclusive collection that marks a new era in the world of designer eyewear. Launching on March 6, this third capsule merges Parisian avant-garde with Korean cyber minimalism, creating a sculptural line designed as an aesthetic manifesto. Blending architecture, identity, and visual spectacle, each piece challenges the way […]
The Top eyewear trends for Fall-Winter 2025 reflect a market that has become both design-driven and tech-aware.According to Euromonitor (Sept–Oct 2025), the global eyewear industry exceeds USD 160 billion this year, growing by +4.8% in value. The market is polarizing: while value-seeking consumers prioritize affordability and practicality, premium segments are investing in quality, sustainability, and […]
For its AH25 collection, the Oakley Factory Team introduces two new frames—Plantaris and Straight Jacket 99—that merge futuristic silhouettes with high-performance materials. Drawing from nature and archival design, these glasses continue Oakley’s exploration of augmented vision through experimental aesthetics. How does the Plantaris frame redefine optical design? The Plantaris frame channels an organic visual language, […]
Unveiled at SILMO Paris, the read on light customized model has won the German Design Award 2026 in the Lifestyle & Fashion category. This Swiss concept of customizable reading glasses, ready in under two minutes, marks a breakthrough in the ready-to-wear optics segment. What exactly is read on light customized? It’s the first-ever ready-made reading […]
The Cartier Eyewear Fall-Winter 2025 collection embodies the Maison’s jeweler spirit and its constant pursuit of excellence. Designed as an extension of Cartier’s style, it explores contrasts between light and depth, structure and movement.This season, the iconic lines — Clash, Santos, Première, Panthère, C de Cartier, and Décor C Allongé — are reinterpreted with precious […]
VANNI Goggles represents the fusion of Italian eyewear craftsmanship and the creative energy of contemporary art. Each year, the Turin-based brand VANNI celebrates this connection by partnering with an emerging artist selected at the Artissima fair. For 2025, the dialogue between art and design takes form through an exclusive capsule collection by artist Nicola Bizzarri, […]
Parisian luxury eyewear by IRON Paris embodies the perfect harmony between design and innovation. Born in the heart of the French capital, the brand has turned eyewear into a form of contemporary art. Every frame, engineered like a miniature piece of architecture, reflects the avant-garde spirit of the City of Light — elegance, precision, and […]
Ho’okipa Ultra G, Maui Jim’s latest innovation, redefines visual performance on the golf course. Designed specifically for golfers, these sunglasses combine the brand’s signature Photochromic PolarizedPlus2™ lens technology with a lightweight, sporty frame. Staying true to Maui Jim’s heritage, they deliver unmatched clarity, comfort, and protection—perfectly blending Hawaiian spirit with high-performance optics. Cutting-Edge Lens Technology […]
The Gucci Eyewear Fall/Winter 2025 collection redefines modern sophistication through the seamless blend of heritage and innovation. Staying true to the House’s codes, Gucci offers a line of optical and sunglasses that merge timeless Italian craftsmanship with contemporary design. From sleek cat-eye silhouettes to oversized butterfly frames, the collection expresses an effortless elegance where every […]
KARL LAGERFELD Eyewear Fall-Winter 2025 stands out as a collection designed for those who blend sophistication with attitude. Anchored by the campaign “From Paris with Love,” embodied by a pop-culture icon, the line captures the brand’s urban, Parisian essence. Every pair reflects Karl’s unmistakable codes — structured shapes, signature detailing, and refined finishes that exude […]
Receive exclusive updates on the latest in the world of eyewear, our favorite selections, and unique offers reserved just for our subscribers. Join the Parisée community and elevate your style today!
Photo : Lumiprod