Walmart’s New “Wirkin” Product Breaks the Internet—And TikTok Enthusiasts Can’t Get Enough

Move over, Hermès. Your $10,000+ Birkin just got a budget-friendly rival, and it’s not coming from Chanel, Gucci, or any other bougie brand you can’t pronounce correctly. Nope, this one’s from Walmart. Yes, Wally-friggin-World—a.k.a. the land of rollback prices, bulk paper towels, and $78 handbags that are doing their best Birkin impression.

(Source: Giphy) 

In short, dubbed the “Wirkin” by TikTok’s finest, this faux-luxury tote has turned the internet into a free-for-all of unboxings, hot takes, and (let’s be honest) some low-key trolling of the luxury elite. The reason? Why spend six figures on a crocodile-skin bag when you can snag something just as “vibe-y” for less than your monthly Starbucks bill? Translation: Walmart has just broken the internet of womens fashion. 

(Source: USA Today) 

Now for those of you blissfully unaware (I was until my so-kind wife educated me on this mind-bending phenomenon), the Hermès Birkin isn’t just a bag—it’s the handbag equivalent of a private jet. It’s a status symbol, an investment (seriously, some resell for $400,000), and a flex so exclusive you can’t even just buy one. Hermès makes you jump through hoops: spend a small fortune on their other products, prove you’re rich enough to deserve it, and wait on a list longer than the DMV’s.

But now, enter Walmart with its $78 dupe, which third-party sellers like Kamugo and Dasein have been pumping out in colors Hermès could only dream of. TikTok creators, led by influencers like @styledbykristi, are living for the chaos. Kristi’s emerald-green Wirkin unboxing has racked up 7.7 million views, with comments like, “Who cares if it’s real? It looks cute, and my wallet’s happy.” 

(Source: Newsweek) 

Now of course, Hermès’ legal team is probably sweating bullets right now. The Birkin design is trademarked, but here’s the thing: unless Hermès can prove these Walmart bags are tricking people into thinking they’re actually Birkins, it’s all perfectly legal. And let’s be real—most people know the difference between a $78 Walmart special and a bag that costs more than their car.

Still, luxury purists are clutching their (authentic) pearls. Michael Mack, a luxury reseller, warns that knockoffs like the Wirkin “undermine the craftsmanship and exclusivity” of high-end brands. Translation: if Karen from accounting can casually stroll into brunch with a Birkin lookalike, is it even cool anymore? To some, a resounding yes. 

(Source: Giphy) 

However, while Hermès fights to protect its crown, TikTok is busy roasting the whole concept of luxury gatekeeping. Bethenny Frankel of Real Housewives fame summed it up perfectly: “This is the mob storming the castle.” She added that people who base their entire personality on owning a Birkin are “not interesting.” Harsh? Sure. But also... kinda true.

But, but, but… it’s not just handbags here.  Dupes are taking over the entire fashion world. From Lululemon leggings to Skims knockoffs, budget-savvy shoppers are proving you don’t need a trust fund to look like you have one. The Wirkin is just the latest chapter in this luxury revolution, and judging by the TikTok frenzy, it’s not going anywhere. 

(Source: Bloomberg) 

Especially considering that the real “moat” to the chaos is nothing more than confidence. Whether you’re team Birkin or team Wirkin, it’s about how you carry it, not how much you spent. If a $78 bag from Walmart makes you feel like a million bucks, then congrats—you’re winning (and so are investors as Walmart is up 70.74% YTD). 

So in the end, is the Wirkin a democratic win for fashion or a threat to luxury’s exclusivity? It depends on who you ask. For Hermès, it’s a reminder that even the most exclusive brands aren’t immune to the dupe wave. For Walmart, it’s further proof that you don’t need Parisian craftsmanship to wreak havoc in the fashion world. And for the rest of us? It’s a reminder that the real power move isn’t spending $10,000 on a handbag—it’s knowing you didn’t have to. (Which is why I don’t mind going to Walmart right after I end this article to get my wife one LOL). 

(Source: Giphy) 

In the meantime, more sales = more optimism for a stock… and right now, Walmart could reap the benefits of both going forward. Of course, do what you will with this information and as always, stay safe and stay frosty, friends! Until next time…

P.S. The New Year is upon us! Will 2025 be the same for you as 2024 was? Or will it be dramatically better? The choice is yours. Click here to join Stocks.News premium and start the new year off on the right foot…

Stocks.News does not hold positions in companies mentioned in the article.