Everybody is Losing Their Mind Over the “Wirkin,” Walmart’s Birkin Bag Dupe, Especially Black Internet

Nothing says “I made it” like popping out with a Birkin bag on your arm. The luxury Hermès tote, named after British-French actress/singer/designer Jane Birkin in 1984, has been a status symbol for decades and is a favorite of the rich and famous, including Cardi B., Law Roach and Travis Scott.

But with a price point that’s more than most people’s mortgage payment, this bag ain’t for everyone. For starters, you can only buy a new Birkin bag from an Hermès boutique, where you have to be invited by a sales associate to shop their selection in a private room (fancy, huh?). Even the smallest bag, the Birkin 25, can cost nearly $12,000, according to Sotheby’s.

Just when most people thought they’d never get close to holding anything like a Birkin in their hands (without a trip to Canal Street), Walmart came out with their answer to the pricey purse, selling a dupe that has everyone talking – and shopping.

The bag, known virally as the “Wirkin,” (get it, Walmart-Birkin) definitely looks the part. It’s made of polyurethane leather with a polyester cotton lining and gold-plated hardware. It comes with a detachable shoulder strap that lets you rock it as a crossbody and retails for $79.99 (that’s right, less than $100!).

And the overwhelming response has been positive, with TikTokers like @shopmamaa appreciating the fact that budget-conscious shoppers can look good without breaking the bank.

“All of this talk about the Walmart Birkin bag has me so happy that people are coming to realize that you do not need to spend thousands of dollars to get a designer-inspired bag or a good quality purse,” she said.

Even Real Housewives alum Bethenny Frankel weighed in on the conversation, calling Walmart’s bag “fascinating” and celebrating it as a way to give everyday moms access to a fashionable accessory that had previously been out of reach.

“It’s a similar shape and is more functional for you crossbody moms because it’s got a strap. And you are allowed to do this and you’re not fronting, and you’re not stunting,” she said in a TikTok video. “This is basically the mob storming the capital, saying ‘we’re here too, bitch.’”

But while TikToker @shoppingbestie agrees that the “Wirkin” bag is cute, she thinks the price should be even cheaper.

“Looking at the bag, just off rip, it’s a really nice bag,” she says. “The thing that threw me off and kind of put a bad taste in my mouth, honestly is the $100 price tag. I thought we were talking about a $50 bag.”

But if you didn’t get your bag before the buzz, unfortunately, you’re out of luck. The tote, which was made in ten colorways, is currently completely out of stock on Walmart.com. TikToker @jessi.my says it’s likely due to trademark issues related to the Birkin’s classic design.

“I spoke with the seller yesterday, and I was told that Walmart is removing the bags due to intellectual property infringement,” she said in a post. “ I would assume that Hermès did not give this seller permission to copy their design.

Although Walmart isn’t selling the bags on its site, you can probably still find one from a reseller online for a fraction of a price of the real thing. We’re keeping our eyes on what happens next.