Tweet Facebook Mail Budget-conscious buyers looking for luxury alternatives have flocked to USA supermarket Walmart's Birkin bag look-alike, nicknamed the "Wirkin." The leather handbag available on Walmart's website is a more affordable alternative to French luxury goods maker Hermès' Birkin bag. Many Wirkins appear to have sold out after buzz on social media.
READ MORE: 'I had 20 inside': Wildlife carer shelters animals from bushfire in her home Budget-conscious buyers looking for luxury alternatives have flocked to USA supermarket Walmart's Birkin bag look-alike, nicknamed the "Wirkin." (Walmart/CNN) Luxury brands like Hermès have remained in the public eye, but their prices put them out of reach for most people. Nonetheless, bargain-hungry shoppers love indulging — making cheaper, high-quality duplicates appealing.
Fashion influencers also play into the hype of these look-alikes, which the rise of online shopping and cheap shipping prices, even from halfway across the world, have made more accessible than ever. Hermès doesn't sell its bag online, but Maison de Luxe, a Los Angeles-based company that sells brand new and pre-owned Hermès bags, lists Birkin bags between $42,560 ($US26,500) and $642,469 ($US399,999). READ MORE: 'The world is failing': Why 2024 was the worst year ever for children Victoria Beckham with a Birkin.
A "standard model" Birkin, which takes up to 40 hours to make by hand by a single artisan, can start at around $11,564 according to SA.
