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Back to the land

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Fork in the road

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Fashion: Accessories / Osaka

Socks appeal

If you’re in Japan and need hosiery for any occasion, there’s only one place to shop. Tabio have shaped the market in its own image. We find out how and ask where it’s treading next.

By: Junichi Toyofuku

Photography: Kentaro Ito

Tabio is a household name in Japan. The Osaka-headquartered hosiery company brings in ¥13.7bn (€100m) in annual sales. For regular socks, gifts or smartening up for last-minute client dinners, it’s a go-to “Made in Japan” brand that also has a global footprint with shops in the UK, France and China. On screen it dressed the Joker’s feet in The Dark Knight and supplied tights to luxury fashion brands for Paris and Milan runway shows. On the pitch, Japanese professional footballers and baseball players wear Tabio Sports per…

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Back to the land

Fork in the road

Plucky upstart

High fibre

Person of interest

Stepping up

Take cover

Show time

Reclaiming the city

Catching sparks

Great and small

Do come in

Style directory

Trendsetting trio

Due south

Power dressing

Socks appeal

The in-betweeners

Vine intervention

Bon appétit

Streets Ahead

Here to stay?

Inspect a gadget

Top of the tree

Never stop learning

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