More than a sock in its historySourced
Earlier tabi were leather footwear
Tabi are now commonly understood as split-toed socks, but earlier forms were footwear made from animal hide. Outdoor versions used reinforced soles of materials including cloth, leather or straw. A familiar current use does not describe every historical version bearing the name.
The name continued while the construction changed.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Tabi · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-05