Discussions around knockoff designer bags recently surfaced with the launch of a new viral $80 bag from Walmart, which has divided fashion enthusiasts on social media.
Named “Wirkin” by many, this faux leather accessory quickly went out of stock on Walmart’s website after videos of the bag, resembling the Hermès original, made the rounds on TikTok.
The @styledbykristi account highlighted this discounted bag in a Dec. 19 post, which has now surpassed 7.7 million views.
In her video, Kristi touted her $79.99 BESTSPR Platinum Lychee Tote, purchased in emerald color and which resembled this luxury accessory that can retail for up to $28,000.
“It’s so beautiful,” Kristi said, removing the plastic and showing off the gold hardware inside.
“For $80 you can pretend you have a Birkin,” she continued. “I mean, anyone can probably guess that’s not true, because who has the money to shell out for the real Birkin, not me. »
Content creator Dillion Reeds also shared his unboxing video of the “famous Walmart Birkin,” complimenting the structure and accuracy of the low-cost design.
“Other than it not having the Hermès logo, it literally has all the same hardware,” he said. “It’s honestly very good. »
However, criticism of this imitation also emerges.
Fashion influencer Jesica Elise expressed that some people defending the Wirkin “reflect feigned ignorance about our consumer choices.”
“If ever there’s a fear, it’s that we’re too ignorant to save ourselves or our planet,” she said in a Dec. 26 video, arguing that many buyers may have acquired counterfeiting simply because it became viral and affordable, without considering whether they actually liked it.
However, many supporters of Walmart’s cheap alternative confessed that they “didn’t care” about this issue and were just happy to be able to imitate a luxury style without spending a fortune.
“I really love the shape, style and functionality of the bag. But I don’t value the brand or the leather to the point of sacrificing my down payment on my house,” one woman confessed in Elise’s comments, while another said: “I was thinking How fun it would be to have an obvious knockoff version for my laptop instead of the black backpack I carry. »
The former star of Real Housewives of New YorkBethenny Frankel, also gave her opinion on the subject, admitting that the discussion around Walmart’s Birkin was “fascinating.”
“A person who can’t afford a Birkin could have gone to Chinatown or bought a bag on the street, but then they would be seen as fraudulent,” she said in a Dec. 28 TikTok. “Walmart gave them an opportunity to access. It’s a similar shape. This one is more functional. And you have the right to do that. You don’t play a role, and you don’t brag. »
“The issue of intellectual property is another subject that we will address. But it’s basically the mob storming the castle saying, “We’re here too, b****, deal with it. You bragged and made it seem like we were never a part of this, and now we have the right to do it fairly,” Frankel added. “And the ones who are going to be angry are boring people, because bragging about a bag is the most interesting thing about them.” »
The conversation around luxury knockoffs should make us think about the true meaning of fashion and personal identity. Is it legitimate to imitate the style of high-end brands at an affordable price, or is it a sign of a less thoughtful consumer culture? The debate is open.
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