Wal-Mart is selling a knockoff version of the Birkin, a luxury purse produced by the French brand Hermès. An Hermès Birkin retails for around $10,000 (£8.000) for smaller models. Wal-Mart’s version costs $78.99 (£62,83). However, many fashionistas are disgusted by this formerly rare bag becoming accessible to the masses. Others dislike the trend of copying original designs and marketing them as dupes. Even so, the bag has gone viral and is taking social media by storm.
Famously, Birkins are very difficult to acquire from Hermès. Consumers are expected to spend around $50,000 to $100,000 (I’m not calculating that to pounds, do it yourself) before the store will let someone purchase one. When the store does offer you the chance to buy one, they do not let you choose the model you want or let you buy it when you happen to be in the store. You have to schedule a special appointment with an employee who will offer you whatever they happen to feel like offering you.
First of all, if you’re willing to spend that much on a bag – you probably deserve to be “up in arms” when your status feels threatened aftr a massive company out-capitalizes you and your illusion of worth is then shattered. Could it be that you’re focusing on the wrong shit? Knock-offs have been around for ages. Every major fashion brand is ripping of the small guys, so seeing this happen to rich people too really fails to draw the sympathy tears.
With that said, will you be purchasing a four dollar Birkin in 2025 for your cousin Becca, omg?
I think it’s a great idea. And I do hope it is made well so that consumers can compare the 2 and realize how much the consumer is simply paying for the brandname prestige (versus the actual material and craftsmanship of the bag)