Tabi socks are suddenly everywhere - on the high street, at festivals, in pilates studios, all over fashion editorials. If you've been curious but had no clue where to start, this one's for you.

Consider it your 101 guide to buying your first pair of tabi socks in the UK: what they actually are, sizing, which materials to go for, and how to pick the right pair for whatever you'll really be using them for.

What are tabi socks?

Tabi socks are split-toe socks. The big toe gets its own little compartment, and the other four share the rest. That's really all there is to it.

The design comes from Japan, where it goes back centuries - made for wearing with traditional thonged sandals. The strap on a zori or geta sits between the big toe and the rest of the foot, so the sock had to split to make room. If you want the full backstory, Wikipedia's entry on tabi is a good place to dig in.

Today people wear them in all sorts of ways: with modern tabi shoes and boots, with their everyday conventional shoes and trainers and even simply for yoga and pilates, or just as a comfier everyday sock. The split toe stays the same. Everything else is up for grabs.

Sizing

Sizing can vary quite a bit with tabi, and it comes down to how they're made. Not every sock factory is set up to produce a split-toe design - it takes specialised machinery, and some of the factories that do it best are found only in Japan, where they've built their whole operation around that split-toe construction.

That said, plenty of conventional sock factories make tabi that are just as good and comfortable. What really matters is the fit: there needs to be enough room for the big toe to sit naturally in its own compartment, with the rest of the foot feeling just as roomy so your movement stays fluid and the sock feels natural on.

At Tabi Co. we source from more than one factory, with our socks coming from either China or Japan. Because of that, it's worth checking each product listing, where we tell you exactly what foot size it'll fit.

For the most consistent, comfortable fit, go by your foot length in centimetres rather than your usual UK or EU size. Those sizes vary surprisingly widely from one shoe or sock brand to the next - the one true constant is your actual foot length, and that's what we base all our measurements on. Follow our size guide for exactly how to measure your feet and get an accurate length - it's easier to get wrong than you'd think, so it's worth taking a moment to do it properly.

How Tabi split-toe socks should fit on your feet

Fit does vary a little from style to style. Some tabi sit a bit more snugly, while others are meant to be loose and non-restrictive around the ankle. Whichever the style, we've factored the elasticity into every foot size, so the fit always feels comfortable and natural, just as it is supposed to.

The fit around the toe split matters most of all. If the divider sits too far forward or too far back - a common problem with a lot of the tabi socks out there - it's a sign that either the size is off, or the sock simply wasn't made with real care for how it fits the foot.

At Tabi Co. we design every sock with that toe fit front of mind, so the split sits exactly where it should and feels comfortable. Each pair is tried and tested before it reaches you - because there's nothing worse than excess fabric bunching over the front of your toes, or too much pressure pressing into the crease between your big toe and the rest. We think about wider feet and health needs too. Some of our tabi are made specifically for wide feet, and others are designed with extra comfort for people who need a gentler, more accommodating fit.

What fibres should my tabi socks be made of?

This is the main decision for a first-time buyer. Get it right and you will have socks you reach for constantly. Get it wrong and they will sit at the back of a drawer.

The default case towards cotton

100% cotton isn't actually the ideal for a sock. Pure cotton has no stretch, so it tends to sag and lose its shape, and while it soaks up moisture it doesn't move it away from your skin - meaning damp feet stay damp, which is where blisters and rubbing come from. It also wears through faster with nothing to reinforce it.

That's why the best "cotton" socks are really a blend. A little nylon adds strength where it counts, at the heel and toe, so they last far longer. A touch of elastane gives the stretch and recovery that keeps the sock snug and holding its shape all day. And a bit of polyester helps wick moisture away so your feet stay drier. You get everything you love about cotton - the softness and breathability - without the drawbacks of it on its own.

This is exactly why our cotton tabi are cotton-blend rather than pure cotton: it's simply the more comfortable, longer-lasting choice for your feet.

It's worth being upfront: if a completely plastic-free wardrobe is your priority, 100% cotton is the only way to fully avoid the microplastics that synthetics shed in the wash. We've chosen cotton-blend across our range because, for a sock, the small amount of nylon and elastane makes a real difference to fit, durability and comfort - a trade-off we think is worth it. We keep the synthetic content to the minimum needed to do that job.

If microfibres are a concern, there's an easy fix: washing your synthetic and blended items in a bag like the Guppyfriend catches the fibres before they reach the drain, so far fewer end up polluting our waterways.

Wool-blend socks

If you run cold, or you're shopping for autumn and winter, wool-blend is the smarter call. Our soft wool-blend tabi are noticeably warmer than cotton, naturally moisture-wicking, and feel more substantial on the foot. They stay warm even when damp - something cotton can't do - which makes them ideal for boots, closed shoes, colder months, and anyone who finds standard cotton socks a touch thin.

Like our cotton range, these are a blend rather than 100% wool. That's a deliberate choice as much as a practical one: the blend is genuinely optimal for a sock - super soft, kind to the skin, and hard-wearing. We'd love to offer a pure merino option one day, and it's on our wishlist, but as a small brand we're not quite at the capacity to make it affordable yet. When we can do it properly, we will.

Which style for which use?

Once you know your material preference, it helps to think about what you actually need the socks for.

Everyday wear

If you want a pair of socks for your day-to-day errands and just general everyday, there's no better sock than Tabi Co.'s plain crew-length cotton sock for the easiest win.

We also have it in black, an essential you'll reach for again and again - clean, no fuss, and they go with practically everything, especially your favourite trainers and boots.

These are the kind of socks that quietly earn its place in permanent rotation of your daily wardrobe. To play with different textures, take a look at our ribbed crew socks - an easy way to add a little extra dimension to your outfits and make even a simple look feel considered. We've got it in a range of classic neutral colours and with different cuff styles including lettuce edge ribbed tabi socks!

Tabi shoes

Did you know we've got the perfect tabi socks for your ballet flats, Mary Janes and the lighter, more revealing tabi shoes? Our invisible seamless tabi socks sit completely out of sight, so you get all the comfort of a sock with none of the look - just you and your ballerinas, exactly as they're meant to be worn. Head towards our Basics collection to see the full range of invisible tabi socks which we have in a variety of colours.

Of course, tabi socks are a Cinderella fit if you've got tabi shoes in particular - whether it's your most prized Maison Margiela ballerinas, Woodchuck Sato flats or even a pair of traditional Japanese Marugo trainers. The shoes split at the toe just like the sock does, the two were quite literally made for each other!

We also have our Tabi ankle socks that keep it discreet with a low cut but slightly more coverage than the invisible ones. Perfect for working out, wearing with your trainers or even just lounging around on slightly warmer days.

Yoga, pilates and movement

For mat-based practice, lightweight cotton tabi are a natural fit. The split toe lets your big toe press and spread the way it's meant to for grip and balance - something a standard sock just doesn't allow. In fact, most of our basic collection works effortlessly for yoga and pilates thanks to that mid-to-lightweight construction we mentioned earlier. If that's specifically what you're after, there's more detail in our guide to tabi socks for yoga and pilates.

Festivals

Tabi Co. has an exciting and fun mix of different types of patterned styles and prints. So there's something for you whether you're keeping it low-key or in the mood to have fun!

Festival season is nearly here. And this is where our graphic printed collection really comes alive. Bold colours. Playful prints. Designs made to be seen. These are the socks you wear when you want your outfit to say something.

They're high-quality cotton blends, and most of our graphic prints are made from combed cotton - that's cotton that's been brushed to strip out the short, rough fibres, leaving it smoother, softer and more hard-wearing. So they look bold but feel lovely. Exactly what you want when you're on your feet all day.

Think about it. Muddy fields, big energy, everyone dressed to stand out - a plain sock just won't cut it. A pair of statement tabi will. Peek them out of your boots or trainers and let them do the talking.

So if you're pulling a festival fit together, start from the feet up. Pick a print you love. Build the look around it. Trust us - they'll be the detail people remember.

Tabi care

Nothing complicated here. Just a few small habits that go a long way:

• Wash cotton styles at 30°C. A cool wash keeps them from shrinking and helps the fibres hold their shape.
• Turn them inside out first. It cuts down on pilling and keeps the outer surface looking fresh for longer.
• Air dry your wool-blends - skip the tumble dryer. Heat and agitation are what shrink wool, so let them dry naturally instead.
• Reshape wool socks while they're still damp, then lay them flat to dry so they keep their proper fit.

Cotton is the more forgiving of the two in the wash. But both will last far longer if you keep them away from high heat - that's the real golden rule. And because a split-toe sock is a more precise bit of construction than an ordinary one, holding that shape over time is well worth the tiny bit of extra care. Do this and your tabi will stay looking good for years.

And we've got something exciting on the way. We're about to launch our Hemp Tabi socks - the first of their kind in the UK!

Hemp is naturally breathable, durable and kind to the planet, so keep an eye out!!