Your favorite K-Pop group has released a new merch line — awesome! But as you scroll through everything on offer, you may come across a term you’ve never heard before: “L-holder”.
If you have no idea what it is or whether it’s worth buying, you’ve come to the right place: here’s everything you need to know about L-holder’s meaning in the K-Pop collecting community.
L-Holder Meaning in K-Pop
In a nutshell: An L-holder is a filing product used for storing stationery. Keep reading to learn more about K-Pop L-holder designs, what you can do with them, and whether they’re worth it.
What Are L-Holders Called in English?
If this product looks familiar to you but you’ve never heard the name, you may know it by a different term in English. L-holders may also be referred to as:
- L folders
- L-type or L-shape folders
- Clear files
- A4 or US letter pockets
- Document folders
- Plastic sleeves
What Does the L Stand For?
The “L” in L-holder refers to the way the folder is structured. These sleeves are sealed along the left vertical edge (|) and the bottom horizontal edge (_).
Put those shapes together (|_), and you get the letter L!
Are L-Holders Worth It?
Whether an L-holder is worth it to you depends on two factors:
- Are you a serious collector who needs to have everything your bias group releases?
- Can you find a use for the folder in your everyday life?
What Can You Put in an L-Holder?
Not sure whether you’ll be able to get any use out of a plastic sleeve? Here are a few ideas for what to keep inside:
- Important documents and certificates
- Homework and assignments
- Loose papers you don’t want to lose
- Travel documents when going on vacation
- Sheet music
- Old, meaningful greeting cards
- Coupons when shopping
- Small K-Pop posters (A4 or US letter size)
- Miscellaneous K-Pop album inclusions you have to place for, such as POBs
Collecting L-Holders
If you’re an avid collector and you’re aiming to own all the merchandise your favorite group releases, it’s a good idea to purchase L-holders when they’re released. Since L holders don’t sell as highly as albums, you may have a hard time finding fans selling their pre-owned folders in the future.
Even if you do find an L-holder on the aftermarket, it’s likely to cost a lot more than you would’ve spent when it was released.
Which Groups Have L-Holders?
L-holders are a common type of merchandise, so most groups who sell stationery as part of their merch drops are bound to offer L-holders at some point. Some of the K-Pop groups who’ve released these folders in the past include:
BTS
TWICE
SEVENTEEN
Red Velvet
Where Can You Buy an L-Holder?
L-holders are typically released as part of an official merchandise set, so keep an eye on your bias group’s social media accounts or website. When an L-holder is released, the group’s agency will usually share a link to a reputable purchasing site.
Where Can You Buy L-Holders Cheaply?
Shipping prices looking a little too expensive for one simple plastic sleeve? Try a group order, also known as a “GO”.
Delivering dozens of L-holders (or albums, or any other merchandise) is usually a lot cheaper per-product than delivering just one. To take advantage of this, local K-Pop fans all around the world run group orders: individual fans order the merchandise through a group order manager, and the manager then purchases the products in bulk. Once the bulk order arrives, your GO manager will ship our your L-holder of choice using your country’s local delivery service.
The process takes a little longer than ordering directly, and you will need to do your due diligence to find a reputable GO manager, but you’re sure to save money this way.
Conclusion
Now you know: an L-holder in K-Pop is a folder decorated with an idol’s photo, useful for storing papers and documents. Many groups release L-holders as part of their official merchandise sets, and you can always purchase through a group order to save money on shipping.