The Wirkin, Walmart’s Knockoff Birkin, Goes Viral. Dallas Says ‘Meh.’

Blame it on TikTok. The latest viral craze involves a dupe to the iconic Hérmes Birkin, and everyone is clamoring to buy one. Shocker. Cleverly coined as the “Wirkin,” the Walmart Birkin-inspired bag retailed at $78 and instantly became one of the hottest bags to snag online.

As clips of the Wirkin made its rounds, TikTokers swiftly snagged the bag, touting a similar structure, stitching, plating, straps and size synonymous to the original Birkin — without the $10,000-and-up price tag. The strenuous process for acquiring an original Birkin — no, you can’t just walk into the store and buy one — makes the Walmart accessibility of the Wirkin even more attractive. So who cares if the stitching is a bit off?

“There ain’t no way I’m ever spending that kind of money on a bag … even if I had the money,” said TikTok user @dillon.reeds as he unboxed his new Wirkin. Reeds, as one of the initial TikTokers to go viral over the find, doesn't care if the stitching is uneven and if the strap sizes differ, as pointed out by wealthy multi-Birkin owner and former Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel. Frankel, an avid collector of designer bags, found herself swept up in Wirkin-mania and purchased her own to give her followers the scoop.

@dillon.reeds let's unbox the viral walmart birkin 👀🫣 #walmartfinds #birkin #birkinbag ♬ original sound - dillon.reeds

"All of you talking about the Walmart 35 cm Birkin with the strap, step aside,” Frankel said in her TikTok video titled “Handbag University.”

“Sit at the kids' table, Mommy’s here to tell you what’s really up. The girl’s that get it…get it.”

But does Dallas get it?

@bethennyfrankel Final rating on the FIRKIN: C Overall takeaway is to find ORIGINAL affordable bags vs a cheap copy @Walmart #hermes #hermesbirkin #birkin #firkin #wirkin #handbag #handbaguniversity #walmart #luxurygoods #lordswork #walmartbirkin #bagreview ♬ original sound - Bethenny Frankel

Apparently, real Birkin owners are upset over the Wal-mes Wirkin bag drama, but duping in the fashion industry is not an uncommon practice. Think Chinatown in New York City. It’s honestly expected. However, SMU student Arden Eiland, who’s studying public relations and fashion media says everyone needs to have some respect for Hérmes' name.

“My generation is so used to instant gratification," Eiland said. "From the world we entered into and what we’ve been exposed to since, time efficiency has overcome nearly every craft. In most cases, ruining the artisan process. Nothing will replicate the feeling of working long and hard to afford a Birkin, strategizing the Hérmes game for when the opportunity presents itself [to buy one], and the absolute astonishment when you’re parading out of the boutique with it. The Walmart Birkin offers none of that. I’ll wait …”

Phillip White, a Dallas activewear designer and fashion enthusiast, has a different perspective. He sees the potential opportunity with the Wirkin market of the mid-luxury consumer. White himself has yet to fall victim to the trend but takes no issue with those who copped the dupe.

“As a designer, people hate when their designs are copied, but Hérmes is such a big brand … they’ll be fine,” White said. “This shows you that there’s a need and a market for these consumers who won’t buy a Birkin bag in their lifetime. There’s so much room for designers to come in and do something similar, like creating a bag that’s mid-luxury, with an accessible price point. For those who have bought the Wirkin, I don’t knock them at all, it’s a cute bag. Go for it.”

The Wirkin frenzy created so much buzz that Walmart silently removed the dupes by the third-party sellers from its e-commerce marketplace, causing further conversation this week and further mayhem. Staying mum as to why, Walmart issued a very brief statement. “In some instances, products may no longer be available. We invite customers to continue exploring our expansive selection and uncover new alternatives.” Maybe it was legalities, or the threat of Hérmes facing off with the low-cost retail giant. Regardless, social media has already moved on.

While the original Wirkins are no longer sold at Wal-mes, the new replacement to satisfy our I-gotta-have-what’s-trending, scarcity mindset, is already surfacing. Anne Sisteron, a luxury jeweler in Beverly Hills, showed off her real Hérmes Kelly bag, and her newly acquired Amazon mini “Kelly” bag for $40, in response to the Wirkin buzz.

“There is no difference. The hardware is gorgeous and the interior is the same. The stitching is perfection,” Sisteron firmly said, in a video that has now acquired 4.3 million views on Instagram. Following another fashion frenzy, social media users are no longer loyal, or Wirkin for a Birkin — it’s onto the Amazon Kelly.

And just like that, the internet’s fashion trends have moved on.