Hermès Responds to ‘Walmart Birkin’, Dupe Culture

Hermès responded Friday to the proliferation of copycat products fuelled by online “dupe” culture, which in recent months have included a lookalike of the French brand’s flagship Birkin sold by Walmart for $80.

“It’s hard to say what to think about this because there’s a grey area. Of course I was mad. Because copying our I.P., copying our creativity is pretty much detestable—it’s stealing someone else’s work,” Dumas said.

At the same time, Dumas acknowledged the “ambiguity” surrounding many copycat products. “People know the difference in quality, no one thinks they are getting a real Hermès bag. In a way it’s a compliment; which probably wasn’t done with malice,” he said.

Dumas made the remarks at a presentation for Hermès’ annual results. Full-year sales rose 15 percent excluding currency shifts, topping €15 billion ($16 billion).

Learn more:

Hermès Sales Accelerate, Raising Hopes for China Turnaround

The leather goods powerhouse reported quarterly revenue up 18 percent at year-end. Sales picked up in China, whose sluggish economy has weighed on luxury brands.