Buying an Hermès Birkin bag, the leather, top-handle tote inspired by the late Jane Birkin, is a rarified experience by design. Birkin ownership is one of fashion's most elite clubs on account of its price (starting in the five figures) and its scarcity (bags are only accessible to longstanding clients). To put it in celebrity terms: Jennifer Lopez's extensive collection is an exception, not a rule. But a look-alike, so-called "Walmart Birkin" bag's overnight popularity has the internet debating what it means to buy an It-bag.
In December, Walmart listed a $78-dollar bag imitating the Birkin's top handles, lock detail, and square compartment. It didn't take long for shoppers to clock the resemblance to the real deal—and for some to declare buying one a chance to reassess the definition of luxury. Over the holidays, over one thousand TikTok videos of creators unboxing their Walmart Birkins have amassed millions of views. Satisfied shoppers said that their purchases telegraphed wealth on a tight budget. Some even bought more than one. Meanwhile, fashion historians and critics noted how the materials, production processes, and overall feel weren't similar to a real Birkin at all—and that buying a copy underscores the impact of the original.
