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In a time when people can barely afford groceries, let alone a $15,000-$40,000 (and sometime more) handbag, you can hardly blame the internet when it loses its collective mind over luxury dupes. We thought we reached peak dupe market, but apparently not. Over the last week or so, TikTok has discovered the next biggest dupe obsession: The Walmart Birkin.
As you can see, the Walmart version of the Birkin is strikingly similar. Sure, real Hermès Birkin owners can sniff out the difference 5,000 miles away and may scoff at a bag that’s literally tens of thousands of dollars less, but people are saying the $229 version is high quality, gorgeous, and is giving Hermès a run for its money. In fact, the “Wirkin” is so high in-demand, that it looks like the retailer (BESTSPR, not Walmart) increased the original price of $80 to $229—which is still a *steal* compared to the real thing.
“I don’t shop at Walmart, I have no interest in a Birkin. But I want the Walmart Birken. Whyyyyy,” one TikTok user commented in the video above.
“It’s from Walmès,” another wrote. Walmès! Dead!
Another explains, “If it’s pretty to you, that’s all that matters. The idea that someone would pay $30,000 or $40,000 on a bag is embarrassing. Enjoy your bag. It looks just as good as the other ones.”
Even Bethenny Frankel has thoughts. “Walmart has given [people who want a Birkin] entry. Like, here ya go. Here it is. It’s a similar shape, it’s more functional—for the crossbody moms—because it has a strap. And you’re allowed to do this; you’re not frontin’ and you’re not stuntin’.” And of course, you’re allowed to do anything, but the idea is that it feels more authentic than a true counterfeit or fake bag, because it’s not pretending to be anything its not. Kinda.
If you search on TikTok, you’ll find a slew of videos explaining the difference between the Walmart version and the real thing, and while many Hermès loyalists argue that the true Birkin demonstrates superior craftsmanship, durability, and design (this may be so, but I can’t confirm or deny, since I don’t own one!!), most people feel that the bag mostly just represents status. In fact, one TikToker created a video explaining that, while the Birkin (named after and designed for model Jane Birkin) was originally made for functionality, it eventually just turned into another way to signify class and wealth, with owners buying various colors, leathers, and limited editions to exist on display, like in a museum.
the real thing
Hermès Clemence Birkin 30 Handbag (FWRD Renew)
The BESTSPR version is, indeed, even more practical than its luxury counterpart, thanks mainly to the crossbody detachable strap. Plus, given the more attainable price, owners of the bag can actually use the bag and not feel like it needs to live behind a glass case.
Did we have “Walmart disrupting the designer handbag industry” on our 2024-2025 Bingo card? Nope, but honestly, we’re here for it.
