Eik Braun-Ottosen
TABI founder. Feet first – made to move.
The beginning
Balance and feeling barefoot
That sensation was Eik’s first feeling when he walked in his split-toe surf boots from the surf shop to the ocean in Cape Town, South Africa. Understanding footwear production from more than 20 years in the shoe business, he wanted to share it with the world.
Japan
Learning from a master
Tabi silhouettes were invented more than 1000 years ago in Japan, worn by geishas and ninjas. Eik learned from the best: a fourth-generation mentor and manufacturer in Okayama, who taught him the techniques and the reasons behind this traditional, unique footwear.
Before TABI
Two shoe brands
Rubberduck, LA. Eik founded Rubberduck when he was 25 years old. It became popular amongst A-list celebrities like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton & Lindsay Lohan.
Nature. After selling Rubberduck, he founded Nature – a wide toe box shoe made for feet. That footwear journey made TABI possible.
Early stages
Designing TABI
Pressure map
Transferring key points to TABI shoes
Classic aesthetic, technical performance
Natural materials, palette & process
Materials & tooling
Sourcing materials using new technology
When you buy a pair