Fashion fans are scrambling to get their hands on Walmart’s version of the acclaimed Hermès Birkin bag

An Hermès Birkin bag is one of the most coveted and luxurious fashion accessories in the world – but with prices starting at $12,000 per bag, it’s out of reach for most.

The Birkin can’t be bought over the counter at an Hermès store, where customers have to build up a purchase history with the brand to even be ‘offered’ a chance to buy it – but now shoppers are raving about Walmart’s $78 version .

The leather wallet bears a striking resemblance to a Birkin and comes in a range of colors including olive, black, elephant grey, emerald green, ivory white.

It is praised by shoppers online with hundreds of TikTok videos dedicated to the fashionable bag.

“I wonder if the Walmart Birkin bag knew it would embody all of 2024,” one TikTok user @your finest pardon said in a recent video while showing a photo of the Walmart tote bag.

“A normal Birkin costs $30,000 to $80,000 plus, depending on the bag,” the fashion content creator continued.

‘The idea of ​​the Birkin is that you see it, you know you can’t afford it – you can’t even get an invite into the shop to buy the Birkin.’

‘And not everyone who is invited to the store can even buy a Birkin – it’s so intangible. So Walmart just said well, how about we make a Birkin and we make it $80.’

According to the TikTok user, reviews of the bag say it’s just as good as the real thing.

“It enables the average person to buy a bag that looks like the Birkin,” she said.

“And the people who spend $30,000 plus on a Birkin probably aren’t happy about it because capitalism isn’t based on taking a luxury item and making it affordable for everyone,” she pointed out.

At Walmart’s websitea description of the bag reads: ‘Quiet and simple appearance, practical internal structure, reasonable partition, easy to use.’

It is now sold out in almost every color online.

“I love Wirkin!” wrote an enthusiastic fan in the comment section of the TikTok video.

‘The best result of this: asking a rich lady, “Oh cool, did you buy this bag at Walmart too?” and watch the meltdown,’ laughed another.

Others weren’t so sure about the Birkin purchase.

‘It looks like a Walmart Birkin. And after a few wears … it’ll definitely look like a Walmart Birkin,’ chimed in one naysayer.

‘Unless this is real, long lasting leather, it’s nothing new under the sun… Bought a Hermès dupe in China 10 years ago… unfortunately didn’t last…’ said another.

Made from materials like crocodile and alligator skin, as well as luxury leathers with fancy names like Tadelakt and Monsieur Grainee, Birkin bags take at least 18 hours to handcraft.

The ‘Basic’ model costs around $11,400 before tax if bought directly from Hermès, while special editions can run into the hundreds of thousands.

But analysts told The Wall Street Journal to make the expensive purses, it costs Hermès just about $1,000.

Dedicated shoppers have gone out of their way to snap up the wallets, which are made in limited numbers and are usually only offered to customers who have an extensive purchase history with the brand.

Insiders told the Journal that Hermès shoppers must spend $10,000 on other items like shoes and scarves before being invited to buy a base model.

To be considered for a rare, limited-edition purse, Hermès regulars must spend around $200,000 on other items in the store, it is claimed.

Even when the coveted offer arrives, customers are shown a single bag they have been invited to buy and are not allowed to specify the color.

Anyone lucky enough to get their hands on a Hermès Birkin can sell it to an online retailer for around $23,000, with that retailer listing it for around $32,000.