Walmart seems to have been paying close attention to all the hubbub about its so-called "Walmart Birkin" or "Wirkin"—the under-$80 Hermès imitator that skyrocketed to viral fame after it was tracked down by TikTokers this winter. The mega-retailer is responding not by dealing in more dupes, but helping shoppers get closer to the real things.

Walmart announced it had partnered with the luxury consignment store Rebag to list hundreds of authenticated, "pre-loved" designer accessories in a special online bout

Walmart is not trying to convince anybody it's copying the real deal, said Koyaana Redstar, a luxury handbag authenticator.

Fashionistas who’ve long lusted after Hermès exclusive and ultra-expensive Birkin handbag got a pre-holiday treat thanks to Walmart.com. It offered a reasonably close Birkin facsimile bag – dubbed a “Wirkin” on social media for the “working class Birkin” or “Walmart Birkin” – priced around $100, compared to the $10,000 and up for the real thing.

Walmart's 'Wirkin' retails at US$78 (S$110) to US$102, while a Birkin costs between US$10,000 and US$500,000. Read more at straitstimes.com.

By contrast, Walmart’s Wirkin bag represented an affordable way for everyday shoppers to embrace the Birkin aesthetic. The bags became a viral sensation on TikTok, where users celebrated the design as a playful jab at the inaccessibility of luxury goods.

The viral Walmart ‘Birkin,’ or ‘Wirkin,” sold out in days and is no longer listed on Walmart.com. Here are a few alternatives to structured, elegant handbags at any budget.

Chances are that by now you’ve heard about Walmart’s dupe for the highly coveted Birkin bag that has gone viral on social media. As exciting as that is for those longing for a Birkin of their own (without spending over $10,

Including Bottega, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton lookalikes from $18 Late last month, the internet nearly broke over Walmart’s $78 Hermès Birkin duplicate, which social media users quickly dubbed the 'Wirkin' bag.