An imitation of the Hermès Birkin bag is all the rage in the United States

The Hermès Birkin is such a rare bag that even the most fortunate have difficulty obtaining it. The response from the American giant Walmart? A bag largely inspired by it, with an…irresistible asset.

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Walmart, the American retail giant, has decided to compete with the French group Hermès. The audacity goes even further, since Walmart has chosen to produce a bag inspired by the most emblematic product of the famous leather goods manufacturer: the Birkin.

This bag is one of the icons of the brand, just like the silk scarf. This basic tote was originally designed for the British actress Jane Birkin in 1984. Manufacturing is carried out in France, always by a single craftsman who shapes and signs the bag for which he is responsible – so it is a difficult object to access, since the waiting list can take several years.

This Hermès employee is holding a crocodile Birkin bag worth $129,000.Image: Getty

The Walmart bag, nicknamed the “Wirkin”, is therefore largely inspired by it, but with lower quality and a much more affordable price, since it is sold at only… 78 dollars. A ridiculous price when we know that the price of a Birkin bag can vary between 5,000 and 300,000 euros, according to figures articulated by BFM TV.

To find out everything about the woman who inspired this bag:

Imitating is not counterfeiting

The Birkin bag, like many other models and brands, is inevitably exposed to counterfeiting, an illegal practice. The American giant has therefore taken precautions. Indeed, if the counterfeits are exact copies, a version without a logo and with slight differences can be classified as a “dupe” rather than a copy. In the absence of false logos, the item cannot be considered a counterfeit, despite obvious similarities.

A luxury product inaccessible to most, imitated by a major retail brand, had the potential to go viral on social networks. And that’s exactly what happened, especially on TikTok. According to CNN, the bag has been out of stock several times, which greatly benefited the American distribution giant.

Hermès is not the only brand to see its trendy products imitated. We have also observed Stanley water bottles or Lululemon leggings competing with similar, much more affordable products. A practice which is nothing new and which, paradoxically, often benefits the imitated brand.

Indeed, according to marketing specialists, an inspired product that appeals to a young clientele does not represent a real threat to big brands. This population, by increasing its purchasing power over time, will probably be tempted to afford l’originalmore luxurious. A knowingly tolerated cohabitation, which allows all budgets to be satisfied.

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