Walmart’s lookalike of ultra-luxe Birkin bag snatched up online by budget-conscious buyers

There is a new Birkin bag lookalike that has taken the internet and budget-conscious bag lovers by storm and, best of all, it costs only a fraction of the price of the famed luxury bag.

American retail giant Walmart has rolled out what fans call the “Wirkin” – a leather handbag that looks similar to the iconic Birkin bag made by French luxury design house Hermes.

The Wirkin retails at US$78 (S$110) to US$102 depending on the size, while the Birkin – which is not easily available and not even displayed for sale in Hermes stores – costs between US$10,000 and US$500,000.

The Wirkin comes in green, orange, blue and iron grey, and in three different styles. It is currently sold out online.

Fashionistas with an online following flocked to Walmart to snag one piece – or several – of the latest sensation in handbags, and put up hundreds of unboxing videos on TikTok and other social media platforms tagged #walmartbirkin.

One TikTok user said: “The Walmart Birkin bag is called a Wirkin and it’s for the ‘wirkin’ class.”

Another user on TikTok said: “A bag should not cost more than a house. I’m here for the Walmart Birkin bag.”

Hermes is not the only brand that has found its highly coveted products duplicated.

Premium athletic apparel retailer Lululemon, household appliance manufacturer Dyson, Skims shapewear and sports apparel maker Adidas also have had to contend with knock-offs of their most popular products entering the market.

Mr Steven Moy, chief client officer at luxury consultant G & Co, told CNN that dupes are inevitable.

Still, the popularity of the Wirkin will not deter the wealthy from getting their hands on a Birkin.

“The true ultra luxury, in that case, won’t be affected in the short run,” Mr Moy said.