Walmart Birkin Dupes: An Anti-Capitalist Flex or a Symptom of a Larger Problem?
The Hermès Birkin bag is famously one of the most coveted handbags in the world — mainly because of its massive price tag and limited availability. A Birkin can run anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000, and they are meant to be the peak of luxury for the few who can afford one (or ten, depending on how rich you are).
The status of the bag is so ubiquitous in culture that artists have used it as a signifier of wealth throughout pop culture. There are hundreds of songs that reference the bags, including Cardi B’s “Up,” Beyoncé’s “Deja Vu,” and City Girls’ “Act Up.” There’s a famous episode of the hit series Sex and the City dedicated to how coveted they are, and the character Margot Tenenbaum of The Royal Tenenbaums wears one in the infamous film.
Despite its seemingly untouchable status, the Birkin has seen its fair share of counterfeits and dupes, just like any other luxury bag. Recently, one has usurped them all and sparked a discourse about anti-capitalism. Dubbed the Wirkin, a bag found on Walmart.com is a solid-looking dupe with the same triangular shape as the original and unmistakable flap closure and hardware. While the materials and construction are decidedly different, the draw is obvious: it’s only $80. On TikTok, the discourse has turned toward the democratization of fashion. Many say that if you like the style, you should be able to buy it without the bank-breaking price tag. They’ve even gone so far as to flaunt that they are wearing THE Walmart Birkin, making it a status symbol in its own right.
Moreover, there seems to be an idea that the more people who have the style, the less exclusive and luxurious the real one becomes – retribution to the brand for making it cost so much in the first place.
But this idea of democratizing fashion simply by making a common design cheaper is misguided. It’s understandable that clothing and accessories, especially pieces meant to flaunt how much money you can drop on unnecessary items in an increasingly wealth-divided world, would be a symbol of a broken class system. But producing an extreme amount of a cheap item to make something more accessible isn't a one-to-one fix or an answer. Sure, you can devalue the cultural currency of something by flooding a market, but a premium item is still a premium item if people are buying in.
Plus, whether it’s a drop-shipped replica or a direct copy made to make people think it’s real, both are problematic — and have many victims. The supply chain throughout the fashion industry is difficult to trace — and when items aren't made above board, it’s even worse. Often, workers making counterfeit products are subject to abuse and even trafficking. There’s no way to know what materials are used to make the product, which means it could be harmful and contain substances like lead or other toxic chemicals. Normalizing this practice also hurts designers and artists who have difficulty fighting back when big fashion companies steal their work.
This is not necessarily a defense of luxury. Fashion’s pricing has gotten outrageous; in many cases, it is with the exclusive purpose of cutting people out. Luxury fashion doesn't guarantee a lack of exploitation. Beating a system built on the oppression of workers in the Global South won’t be won through a dupe. And if your goal has nothing to do with taking a stand and you just think the bag is cool — it’s understandably frustrating not to be able to buy in, even at secondhand prices. But I think the solution might be to take a step back and consider the why. Is it because you love the practical flap or shape? There are plenty of great designers making unique bags that have those qualities. Is it posturing through a status bag? There are so many other ways to say things with your style and a Birkin or a Wirkin has nothing to do with it.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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