An affordable bag that went viral after being compared to an expensive designer brand has finally launched in Australia – and shoppers are already going wild.
Brits wiped Marks and Spencer shelves clean of its “Faux Leather Cross Body Bag” after it was compared to classic box bag from the luxury French fashion brand at the end of last year.
Along with its similar rectangular shape, the M&S offering has an almost identical gold pushlock fastening, and adjustable strap – sending shoppers into a spin over the likeness.
But while the Celine version, made with calfskin, retails for $5900, the M&S “dupe” costs $75.99.
Now an eagle-eyed influencer has revealed Aussies can finally get their hands on it after spotting it had landed on the British department stores Australian website.
Sydney style blogger Virginia Jenkins shared the “amazing” find with her 32,000 followers, pointing out the striking resemblance but varying price tags.
“The bag has been one of the fastest-selling bags Marks & Spencer has had in recent history, selling 10 times the amount we initially expected it to sell,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.
“As a result, we have been investing in more stocks to keep up with customer’s demand.”
The “incredible dupe” was first discovered by UK-based radio presenter and TikTok star Melissa Riddell who alerted her 150,000 followers to the bag in September after spotting it in a UK store.
“I was looking for bedding but obviously got distracted. Does this not look just like the Celine classic box bag?”
Popping the black one on over her trench coat, Melissa added: “I can’t cope!”
The bargain bag – which can be purchased in camel, khaki and white through the website in Australia – quickly blew up, with hundreds of videos emerging on TikTok showing shoppers taking extreme measures to find the popular item.
“Everyone has gone nuts for this bag,” one woman explained in a video.
“I’m literally running now,” another said, alongside footage of her sprinting into a store.
The brand also recently restocked its iconic trench coats as we move into the cooler months, an item Aussies went “crazy” for last year.
The product, which has been on of top-selling items site wide for four years in Australia, now comes in pink shell as well as black and sand.
It has a timeless knee-length silhouette, a buckle belt and double button fastening, for a stylish finish.
It’s also been treated with the brand’s water-repellent Stormwear technology so it can double as a rain coat.