How a $35 bag managed to annoy the international fashion brand
The "Birkin" bag from the luxury fashion house Hermes, which costs tens of thousands of dollars, is now getting a colorful rubber version that costs only a few dollars. Meet the "Jelly Birkin" – a handbag that adopts the recognizable look of the Birkin from Hermes. However, instead of luxury leather, the new version is made of a flexible material and rubber, and comes in striking colors.
The "Birkin" bag from the luxury fashion house Hermes, which costs tens of thousands of dollars, is now getting a colorful rubber version that costs only a few dollars. Meet the "Jelly Birkin" – a handbag that adopts the recognizable look of the Birkin from Hermes. However, instead of luxury leather, the new version is made of a flexible material and rubber, and comes in striking colors.
The Jelly Birkin (Fake+ Birkin) comes in striking shades and offers a transparent and light look. Unlike the original Birkin, it does not try to project wealth or exclusivity. On the contrary, it turns the luxury symbol into a fashion joke.
The gap between the two does not end with the material. An original Birkin can reach a price of 100,000 shekels, while the plastic version is sold for about $35. Despite this, the new bag has managed to attract a surprising audience, from K-pop stars to Hermes enthusiasts who own the original bags.
Hermes is already familiar with the phenomenon
This is not the first imitation to reach the fashion world. In the early 2000s, the "Jelly Kelly" appeared, a plastic version inspired by the Kelly bag from Hermes. The bag gained exposure after stars like Reese Witherspoon were seen with it.
However, this adventure ended quickly. Hermes' lawyers sent warning letters to stores that sold the bags, and by 2003 they had already disappeared from the shelves.
From social networks to the whole world
This time the story looks different. In May, K-pop star Kai was seen with a lime green bag, and the exposure gave the trend a significant boost. Young people in Asia adopted the look, and by June, searches for the category on Google jumped by 5,000%.
The trend comes at an interesting time for the Birkin itself. For years, the bag was perceived not only as a luxury accessory, but also as an asset to invest in. There were those who preferred to buy an expensive leather bag instead of investing their money in stocks or bonds, in the expectation that its value would be maintained and even increase over time.
Ultimately, the "Jelly Birkin" offers a different perception of fashion: less serious, less expensive, and much more playful. It is precisely the cheap imitation that manages to turn one of the world's greatest status symbols into a fashion item that does not need to be taken seriously.
