It’s translucent, shiny, colorful, and it has taken over TikTok feeds this summer. The "Jelly Firkin" bag openly borrows its silhouette from the most coveted bag in the world, in a playful, jelly-like version. Here is where the phenomenon comes from, what the material is really worth, and how to choose your own.
Where does the name "Firkin" come from?
"Firkin" is a portmanteau of "fake" and "Birkin." The name says exactly what the object is: a self-aware take on the codes of the Hermès bag, in a colorful, lightweight, and affordable version.
This is an important distinction from counterfeiting. A fake seeks to deceive: copied logos, usurped brand identity, luxury pricing. The Firkin deceives no one—it only borrows the silhouette, without any branding and without ambiguity about what it is. This "dupe" culture consists precisely of playing with luxury codes, not falsifying them.
A trend born in Korea
The phenomenon started in South Korea, where these PVC or TPU bags retail for between 20,000 and 80,000 won, or roughly $15 to $55.
The turning point came in the spring of 2026 with TikTok virality: on some platforms, demand jumped by more than 1,000% in a single week. The aesthetic has a lot to do with it—the Firkin ticks the Y2K box, the transparency box, and the saturated color box all at once.
The material: PVC or TPU, and why it matters
These bags are made of PVC or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), with a transparency level of around 70% to 80% depending on the model. TPU is the better of the two: it is more flexible, more resistant to cold, and yellows less quickly than PVC.
Our models are made of recycled TPU, which partly resolves the issue of virgin plastic. They are water-resistant and can be cleaned with a damp sponge—though they are not waterproof when submerged.
What makes a good Firkin
Despite its flexible material, a successful Firkin retains the structured hold of its inspiration: a rounded flap that folds over, a padlock with a key bell, and a turn-lock closure.
A bad Firkin sags as soon as you fill it because the material is too thin or poorly thermoformed. This is the first criterion to check in photos: a bag that holds its shape whether empty or full.
Also check for an inside pocket. On an entirely transparent bag, this is what allows you to store things you don't want to expose to everyone's view.
Our dimensions and how to wear it
Our Jelly Firkin bags measure 35 × 15 × 27 cm: large enough for daily essentials, a compact laptop, a beach towel, or your gear for the day.
Transparency changes how you pack a bag: what's inside becomes part of the outfit. A colorful pouch, a scarf, or a small matching internal bag become visible elements—that’s part of the game.
As for colors, black and white remain the easiest to wear daily, while pink, green, and yellow fully embrace the summery vibe.
How long will the trend last?
No one can say honestly, and beware of those who claim to. What we can observe is that jelly material is not having its first wave: jelly shoes and PVC accessories have been returning regularly since the 90s.
What changed in 2026 is the association of this material with a structured leather-goods silhouette, whereas jelly had previously been confined to sandals and small accessories.