John Galliano Debuts Tabi Shoe Collaboration With Christian Louboutin for Maison Margiela’s Spring 2024 Collection in Paris

Creative director John Galliano collaborated with Christian Louboutin for Maison Margiela’s Artisanal spring 2024 couture collection, which was presented with a theatrical runway show during Paris Fashion Week on Thursday. The powerful designer duo created six different tabi shoes — all of them featuring Loboutin’s signature red sole while embracing Margiela’s split-toe silhouette.

Model on the runway at Maison Margiela Couture Spring 2024 as part of Paris Couture Fashion Week held at Pont Alexandre III on January 25, 2024 in Paris, France.
Model on the runway at Maison Margiela’s spring 2024 show. Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

The split-toe design was applied to pumps, platforms and boots that integrated Margiela’s opera-like, Parisian-inspired and voyeuristic show.

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The Margiela x Louboutin’s Tabi pumps received an animalistic transformation with prothese-augmented heel caps evoking the outline of hoofs. The style features 4.7-inch heels in black, white or beige leather and emerald velour.

Model on the runway at Maison Margiela Couture Spring 2024 as part of Paris Couture Fashion Week held at Pont Alexandre III on January 25, 2024 in Paris, France.
Gwendoline Christie at Maison Margiela’s spring 2024 show. Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

The collection continued with the Tabi two-piece heels featuring an ankle strap in black neoprene or pink or emerald velour and faux lizard, and the Tabi two-piece heels with an interlaced ankle strap in black neoprene or velour and faux lizard in yellow, emerald or Eau de Nil.

The Tabi knee-high boots presented on the show were crafted with ponyskin leather, which was painted with a reverse degradé technique to evoke an animal-like aesthetic.

Maison Margiela, Louboutins, paris fashion week
Model on the runway at Maison Margiela’s spring 2024 show. Giovanni Giannoni

Tabi lace-up derbies were introduced in black leather and leopard-printed neoprene on the runway. The collaboration also included Tabi lace-up boots and Tabi brogue boots in black leather or black croc-embossed leather.

Model on the runway at Maison Margiela Couture Spring 2024 as part of Paris Couture Fashion Week held at Pont Alexandre III on January 25, 2024 in Paris, France.
Model on the runway at Maison Margiela’s spring 2024 show. Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

Another highlight of the collaboration is its ankle strap pump, which was constructed as a sole-less standalone stiletto heel.

Model on the runway at Maison Margiela Couture Spring 2024 as part of Paris Couture Fashion Week held at Pont Alexandre III on January 25, 2024 in Paris, France.
Model on the runway at Maison Margiela’s spring 2024 show. Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

In the front row of the Paris show, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner were seen wearing styles from the Margiela x Louboutin collaboration.

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 25: Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner are seen arriving at the Maison Margiela Fashion show on January 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)
Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner at the Maison Margiela fashion show. GC Images

Margiela first launched its tabi shoes, inspired by Japanese tabi socks, in the 1980s. The silhouette has become a staple of the brand and has been embraced by many fashion enthusiasts and celebrity influencers in the past years, including Dua Lipa and Chlöe Sevigny.

“John and I met about 40 years ago when he first moved to Paris. Working with someone you love and respect was really the nice part of the collaboration. Moreover, Maison Margiela has such precise and strong codes that you can refer to, which are very well preserved,” Louboutin said about the collaboration via statement.

Models on the catwalk Maison Margiela show, Runway, Spring Summer 2019, Paris Fashion Week, France - 26 Sep 2018
Models on the catwalk Maison Margiela show, Runway, Spring Summer 2019, Paris Fashion Week, France - 26 Sep 2018

Maison Margiela Spring 2019 Show at Paris Fashion Week

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About the Author:

Renan Botelho is the senior Digital Editor for Footwear News, reporting on the latest fashion trends and celebrity style. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Methodist University of São Paulo. He can be reached at rbotelho@footwearnews.com.

Launch Gallery: Maison Margiela Spring 2019 Show at Paris Fashion Week

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