Fashion lovers know Hermés is among the top luxury brands of all time due to its exclusive target audience, people willing to pay elevated prices for some of the most highly coveted items in the world.
From its beginning as a handcrafted saddlery and harness store founded in Paris in 1837 to its transition into leather goods in 1922, Hermés has prioritized using premium materials, limited production, and heritage to market itself as a top brand that many can only desire.
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Although a successful brand long before, Hermés rose to stardom thanks to creating the iconic Birkin bag, which is considered among the most exclusive fashion items in the luxury market.
The Birkin is considered a work of art due to its 18-hour minimum handcrafting process accomplished by a single artisan. The labor-intensive process has also made the bag almost impossible to acquire: Thousands of people worldwide dream of simply putting their name down on the long waitlist to purchase a Birkin bag.
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However, prospective customers can only add their names to the list after years of being loyal Hermés customers, fostering relationships with staff members, and being part of the "top 1%."
Depending on its size, material, and year of manufacture, a single bag can cost anywhere from $10,000 to upwards of $2 million.
The history of the Hermès Birkin Bag and how it became so exclusive
The Birkin bag was created in 1984 by Hermés CEO and art director Jean-Louis Dumas after serendipitously encountering the actress, singer, and model Jane Birkin while on a flight from Paris to London the year prior.
According to legend, while sitting next to each other in first class, Jane Birkin, considered a fashion icon at the time and known for always carrying a straw basket bag, spilled all the contents of her purse on the floor. As Dumas was helping her gather her belongings, he joked about her needing a better handbag. She replied she hadn't found one, but the day Hérmes made one, she would buy it.
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Legend has it that her comment prompted Dumas to grab an airplane sickness bag and begin drawing the first sketch of the Birkin bag. He told Jane Birkin he would name the bag after her since she had inspired him; he fulfilled his promise once the bag was released.
Walmart enters the luxury market with a Birkin bag dupe, and it goes viral
Walmart (WMT) is known for targeting value-minded consumers with lower prices on a wide range of items. Recently, Walmart has been focusing on bettering its apparel offerings by collaborating with fashion brands to develop stylish clothing at affordable prices.
In 2021, Walmart named American fashion designer Brandon Maxwell as the creative director of two of its clothing brands. After several failed attempts to enter the fashion world, Walmart participated in New York Fashion Week for the first time this year.
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With this fashion evolution happening at Walmart, a third-party seller saw the opportunity to capitalize on this highly desirable bag and created a dupe that would cost customers less than $100 on Walmart's marketplace.
It's important to note that this Walmart version is not the original Hermés Birkin bag. It's made from polyester, not leather; the hardware is made with cheaper material, and the bag is factory-made rather than hand-crafted.
Nonetheless, the bags instantly went viral on social media when they became available on Walmart's marketplace. The bags are currently sold out on BESTSPR's original post, but many other sellers have now advertised their own versions of the Birkin dupe, some with inflated prices of around $270.
Walmart customers react to the Birkin dupes
Walmart customers who managed to get their hands on the Birkin dupe flocked to TikTok to post reviews and first impressions of the bags, causing thousands of TikTok users to bombard the comment section with their reactions.
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One creative user called Walmart's version of the Birkin bag the new "Walmés Wirkin."
Another user criticized Hermés, commenting: "I'd get the Walmart Birkin just for the simple fact that Hérmes is doing absolutely nothing special to the bag for it to be $12,000."
One excited customer commented: "Girl, I ordered 4 in different sizes and colors for $120 and I'm so stoked to wear it out."
Many users commented on how real the dupes looked compared to the original, with one stating: "THOSE ARE WALMART ONES? I thought they were real omg."
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