As a former Hermès employee, I've seen customers make the same mistakes, especially when trying to get access to high-ticket things like a Birkin bag.

The world biggest retailer Walmart launched handbags that look similar to Hermes. While unrelated to the Birkin - TikTok has fallen in love with the $78 product.

Budget-conscious buyers looking for luxury alternatives have flocked to Walmart’s Birkin bag look-alike, nicknamed the “Wirkin.”

The authentic version can cost anywhere between $10,000 to $2 million, depending on the bag’s material, color, and rarity. Meanwhile, the Walmart “dupe,” aptly dubbed the “Wirkin,” has a much more accessible price tag of around $80.

And the “Wirkin”—the replica of the illustrious Hermès Birkin bag—is perhaps the most popular of Walmart’s designer offerings. The $78 look-alike of the luxury purse—that retails from $10,000 to $40,000 for a new bag, or up to more than $300,000 on resale—is all over social media.

The rise in dupe culture has infiltrated the luxury market, with counterfeits getting more sophisticated in recent years.

An expert recently explained that the viral Walmart Birkin social media storm could potentially push Hermes to pursue legal action.

Handbags that resemble the luxe Hermès Birkin have sold for less than $100 at the mass-market retailer. Is that infringement or just a good deal?