The Internet’s newest star has been born. It’s not a person, but rather an affordable copy of one of the most expensive and coveted purses in the world: the Hermès Birkin.
The Walmart “Wirkin"
Made by Kamugo, the bag doesn’t appear to officially have a name. On Walmart’s website, it’s simply referred to by its product description, which includes the keywords “genuine leather handbags for women,” and “ladies shoulder satchel.” The purse ranges from between $78 and $102, depending on the style, and comes in several colors, including blue, orange, black, and pink.
Although the words “Birkin” and “Hermès” don’t appear anywhere in Walmart’s listing, the similarities the signature purse from Hermès are hard to miss. Both bags appear to have the same metal hardware on the front, round handles, and a leather flap. Some even look like they’re a similar size.
The Walmart "Wirkin."
Why Is the Wirkin so Popular?
According to Google Trends, interest in the Walmart Birkin bag started to rise around Christmas and peaked on New Year’s Eve. One of the most popular videos about the bag on TikTok, with 8.6 million views at the time of publication, was posted on Dec. 19.
There appear to be two primary reasons behind the Wirkin’s popularity. The first is the bag’s resemblance to the real Birkin and its good craftsmanship. Although it’s likely the materials to make the Wirkin are very different than those used in its French counterpart, people online appear pleased with its sturdiness and utility.
The second is related to power and wealth. As TikTok creator jessi.my, whose videos about her Wirkin went viral, explained in a video, a Birkin bag is unattainable to most people. Furthermore, she added that the average person considers the hoops you have to get through to buy a Birkin—you have to be offered the opportunity to buy—“unfathomably ridiculous.”
Her comments were echoed by others on the platform, who delighted in the idea that a copycat Wirkin could potentially “cheapen” the real Birkins over time.
“I love the idea of thousands of us walking around with our little Wirkins and I love the idea of people who spent $30,000 on a stupid bag being asked if they got it from Walmart. I would love to see their reaction,” the creator said.
Real Hermès Birkin bags.
A Look at the Real Birkins
The original Birkin was not born at Walmart. Instead, the idea for it was conceived during a flight from Paris to London. That’s when the actress Jane Birkin found herself sitting next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the executive chairman of Hermès from 1978 to 2006. Birkin (the actress) told Dumas that she couldn’t find a bag that accommodated her needs as a young mother.
“A born creator with a keen eye, he immediately sketched a supple and spacious rectangular holdall with a burnished flap and saddle stitching. With a dedicated space for her baby’s bottles!” Hermès says on its website.
Today, Hermès’ Birkin is a status symbol for the rich and famous. Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Kim Kardashian are some of the lucky owners. Birkin bags can range in price from $10,000 to $500,000. However, the money isn’t the biggest barrier here. Hermès doesn’t sell the purses online or display them in its stores.
In addition, if a customer wants to buy a Birkin, they can’t simply stroll in and ask for one. As explained by USA Today, they have to be offered the opportunity to buy from Hermès employees. The brand requires customers to buy several Hermès products, including shoes, scarves, and jewelry, before they’re offered an opportunity to get their own bag.
Legal Issues
Copying another product can have consequences. Douglas Hand, a fashion lawyer, told WWD that Hermès could sue Walmart and the third-party vendors selling the affordable Birkin copy.
“For an extremely valuable product like Birkin, which could be diluted and devalued through its overexposure, it would not be surprising for Hermès to take an aggressive approach,” Hand said.
There are many arguments Hermès could make, according to Hand. For instance, it could claim that the bags cause “post-sale confusion” because others who see the lookalike bags and believe them to be the real thing might believe that Hermés is “making a shoddy product.”
Staying Power
It’s tough to know whether a viral product will have staying power. Remember when we were all talking about “brat summer”? This is especially true when it comes to something as fickle as fashion. As a millennial, I still don’t know whether skinny jeans are still “eww” or acceptable again.
My best guess is that this is just a collective Internet moment that everyone will move on from. In other words, the same thing we see every few weeks. It’s just how the Internet works. However, this episode does raise questions about power and popularity. As the owner of the Birkin design with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, Hermès certainly has the muscle to take Walmart to court over its copy and (probably) win.
But seeing a giant like Hermès try to mess with what makes everyday people happy would likely make the Wirkin even more popular, something the luxury retailer probably doesn’t want. Faced with this scenario, what can Hermès do? It’s still unclear. The company hasn’t said anything publicly about the Wirkin.
If there’s one thing that’s certain, though, it’s that this is the Internet doing what it does best: sticking it to those with power. All it took was a few very popular videos about a bag.
Images | Walmart | Hermès
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