Arizona

The sandal has remained unchanged in design since its 1973 debut and has become a gender and age-neutral style. Initially sold in health-food stores, the Arizona became a symbol of counterculture in the United States during the 1970s. The model is currently produced in over 50 different color variations and multiple material options, with prices ranging from $49.95 to $180.00 depending on materials and features.

Karl Birkenstock developed the Arizona two-strap style between 1971 and 1972, testing the first prototypes on company employees. The model debuted in 1973 at a time when unisex styles were becoming more widely accepted in footwear design. As the third shoe introduced by Birkenstock, the Arizona followed the single-strap Madrid launched in 1963 and the Zurich introduced in 1964.

The Arizona was initially made with a synthetic sportswear upper backed with genuine leather, available in black or white. The sandal was first sold through health-food stores in the United States, where it developed a following among counterculture communities during the 1970s. Since its introduction in 1973, the Arizona has been sold to millions of customers worldwide. The model has remained unchanged in design for over five decades.

Birkenstock offers an exclusive Arizona 1973 variant that replicates the original sandals with a double strap upper and adjustable antique gold metal pin buckles, maintaining the specifications of the first production models.

The Arizona features two adjustable straps positioned across the instep and forefoot, each secured with nickel-free metal buckles. Karl Birkenstock developed a specific fixing method for the buckle, referred to as the "pretzel technique," which has been used on all Arizona models since the original design. The company offers more than 50 different color shades and lacquers for the buckle hardware.

The sandal's footbed incorporates several anatomical features designed to support the foot's natural structure. The heel area contains very deep molding to support foot tissue and hold the heel bone in its natural position. Raised indentations at the front near the toes allow for toe grip and natural toe spread during walking. The high footbed edge at the front provides protection for toes during the rolling motion of the foot.

Each Arizona sandal undergoes 17 stages in the production process, including baking the footbed, lining the straps, and punching the upper. Some production steps remain entirely manual, others are half-automated, and a few are fully automated.

The Arizona's anatomically formed footbed consists of a flexible cork and latex core constructed from four distinct layers. Natural cork serves as the primary material by volume in the footbed. The cork comes from punching scrap left over from wine cork production, which is ground and sieved to grain size. The majority of cork processed by Birkenstock comes from southern Portugal, the world's most important exporter of raw cork.

Natural latex serves as a binding agent, blended with the cork granules to create the footbed base. The cork-latex mixture is baked with two layers of jute and a top layer of suede at 100°C for several minutes. The jute layers provide additional stabilization and improve moisture-regulating properties of the footbed. The suede top layer nestles against the foot and adjusts to its contour over time.

Cork provides high elasticity, excellent cushioning, and effective insulation against heat, cold, and moisture. These properties allow the footbed to mold to the wearer's foot shape while maintaining structural support.

Over five decades of production, hundreds of variations of the Arizona have been designed. Current models are manufactured from leather, suede, textiles, and synthetic materials. Suede leather versions are available in Taupe, Basalt Gray, Black, Mauve, Charcoal, Sandcastle, and Latte Cream colors.

The Soft Footbed version includes an extra layer of foam cushioning above the cork base, featuring millions of tiny air bubbles within a latex foam layer. This variation provides additional cushioning while maintaining the anatomical shape of the original footbed design.

Pricing for Arizona models varies by material and features. The Arizona Birko-Flor is priced at $117.95, while the Arizona Essentials EVA costs $49.95. The Arizona Oiled Leather retails for $135.00, and the Arizona Soft Footbed Suede ranges from $150.00 to $154.95. The Arizona Big Buckle Leather is priced at $170.00, with the full range spanning from $49.95 to $180.00.

The sandal is available in both narrow and regular width fits. Regular width corresponds to Women's C-D and Men's D-EE sizing, while narrow width fits Women's A-B and Men's B-C. The narrow fit footbed displays a filled-in foot image, while the regular fit shows an outline. Stock codes for narrow fittings end with the number three.

Proper fit guidelines specify approximately one-quarter inch of space in front of the toes and behind the heels. A break-in period is recommended, with wear limited to a few hours for the first five or six times.

The Arizona is handmade in Birkenstock's production facilities in Görlitz, Germany, near the Polish border. The factory in Görlitz opened in 2009 and has grown its production capacity from five million to 30 million pairs in the last five years. Nearly one out of every three of Birkenstock's 3,600 employees works at the Görlitz facility.

Production at Görlitz involves a combination of manual, semi-automated, and fully automated processes. Workers hand-apply leather linings to footbeds as part of the assembly process. Birkenstock assembles over 95 percent of all products in Germany and sources over 90 percent of materials from Europe. Components from other facilities are shipped to Görlitz, where they are assembled into complete sandals.

The Arizona has become Birkenstock's best-selling sandal and accounts for one-third of all sandals sold by the company. The model has achieved status as the quintessential Birkenstock shoe, defining a laid-back aesthetic for decades. The sandal has developed into a gender and age-neutral style sought across multiple generations.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was a noted wearer of the Arizona in tan suede. A pair of his sandals are on display in Birkenstock's New York store, serving as a testament to the model's adoption by prominent cultural figures.