Walmart's $78 Birkin Dupe Is Causing Huge Debates on the Internet — Meet the 'Wirkin'

Mar. 15, 2025

Walmart Wirkin (left) red Hermés Birkin (right).Photo:Walmart.com; Getty

Walmart.com; Getty

Dupe hunters, rejoice! Walmart has entered the luxury bag chat.

The retail giant’s budget-friendly duplicate of the Hermès' Birkin — humorously nicknamed the Walmès Wirkin — had influencers and consumers desperately trying to get their hands on the $79 piece. Thesold-outhandbag, which Walmart describes on its website as a leather shoulder bag, was offered in 12 colors including orange, dark blue, pink, light blue, dark khaki and dark sky gray.

As the piece gained popularity and went viral, influencers like TikToker@lastinglooksnoticed that another version of the bag was available, for more than double the price of Walmart’s original at $198.88. Other renditions likeKAMUGO’shandbag, also sold out, retails at $102.

(The bags are not only sold out but are now not appearing on Walmart’s website.)

“We are not looking for a $200 price point,” the social media user said of the price boost, adding that she’s already seen the purse on resale websites.

Still, TikTok star@jessi.mysnagged two Wirkins, one sized at 30 and one at 35, and raved about both sizes.

Meanwhile, @wildunfilteredcalled out the lookalike as she held up her own handbag, one she said was a real Birkin.

“Please don’t think that you’re buying a Birkin, because you’re not,” she quipped.

Still, influencers like Dillon Reedshappily showed off his Walmart bag, dubbing it an item for the “Wirkin class” while Erica Stowlman Dowdy called it “one of the best things of 2024.”

Walmart did not immediately reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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In an interview withVoguein 2012, Birkin (who died in 2023) recalled the chance encounter with Dumas in 1981 that resulted in the bag’s creation. During an Air France flight to London, Birkin was seated next to the French businessman. After the contents of her bag fell out, Dumas commented that she should “have one with pockets.”

“‘I said, ‘The day Hermès makes one with pockets I will have that,'” Birkin shared.

She said that she then suggested Hermès make a handbag that’s “bigger than the Kelly but smaller than Serge’s suitcase,” to which Dumas replied, “Well, what would it be like?” Birkin went on to explain her vision, sketching it out on a barf bag. The design was transformed into the Birkin we know today.

The handbag has become a status symbol among A-listers. Earlier this year, Kim Kardashiancaused a frenzy onlinefor casually placing her $50K+ handbag on the floor at a basketball game, while Cardi Bshowed off her six-figure collection. In a Dec. 4 episode ofVogue’s“What’s in my Bag” series,Dua Lipashared the contentsof her Birkin 35 bag.

source: people.com