Fashion conglomerate certified in two collection categories simultaneously

Group eyes up to 30 Guinness titles, aims to build world's largest fashion R&D center

A bookend stored in the below-ground vault of Eland Global R&D Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the official Guinness World Records certification ceremony was held Wednesday. [Eland Group]
A bookend stored in the below-ground vault of Eland Global R&D Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the official Guinness World Records certification ceremony was held Wednesday. [Eland Group]

Eland Group has set Guinness World Records for the largest collections of suitcases and bookends.

The group held an official Guinness World Records certification ceremony Wednesday morning at Eland Global R&D Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, attended by Guinness World Records adjudicator Son Min-young, Eland Museum CEO Han Woo-seok and Eland Museum General Director Seo Young-hee.

Eland received official certification in two categories — "largest collection of suitcases" with 7,816 items and "largest collection of bookends" with 4,674 items. The feat was notable as a single company earned Guinness recognition in two collection categories at the same time.

The certifications reflect an archive Eland has built over more than 30 years since 1995. The group has amassed more than 1 million items spanning fashion, music, film, sports and the arts — including Grammy Award trophies, stage costumes and instruments belonging to legendary singers, props from Academy Award-winning films, uniforms worn by sports stars, and original garments by world-renowned fashion designers.

The below-ground vault at Eland Global R&D Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the official Guinness World Records certification ceremony was held Wednesday. [Eland Group]
The below-ground vault at Eland Global R&D Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the official Guinness World Records certification ceremony was held Wednesday. [Eland Group]

The driving force has been a commitment to securing primary source material for fashion research and creative inspiration, alongside a vision the company calls "cultural patriotism" — making world-class cultural heritage accessible to anyone in Korea.

Eland has put its holdings to use well beyond storage, deploying them for exhibitions and design research. Eland Museum has organized more than 20 exhibitions over the past three years, drawing a cumulative audience of more than 1.1 million visitors. The group also displays pieces across its hotel and dining venues, including Kensington Hotel and Ashley Queens.

Following the certification ceremony, Eland led an R&D archive tour for attendees, who explored the vaults on the first and second below-ground floors of Eland Global R&D Center and viewed items collected over more than three decades.

Eland plans to pursue Guinness World Records in as many as 30 categories going forward. "We will continue to unveil our collection in stages and challenge up to 30 Guinness World Records categories, establishing Eland Global R&D Center as a fashion R&D center with the world's largest collection," a company official said.

Eland Group receives official Guinness World Records certification Wednesday for the world's largest suitcase collection. [Eland Group]
Eland Group receives official Guinness World Records certification Wednesday for the world's largest suitcase collection. [Eland Group]
Eland Group receives official Guinness World Records certification Wednesday for the world's largest bookend collection. [Eland Group]
Eland Group receives official Guinness World Records certification Wednesday for the world's largest bookend collection. [Eland Group]

spa@heraldcorp.com