WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- It's been called the Armani of armor, and the client list includes presidents, politicians, industry leaders and extraordinary folk with fat files in law enforcement agencies.
Miguel Caballero, the bulletproof wear specialist, is on the trail of whoever needs protection against death by gunshot but nonetheless is conscious of the latest fashion in street and party wear.
The company that began its operations in Bogota, Colombia, in 1992 now has outlets in Mexico City and Miami, and proudly displays Turkey and India on its global distribution network. It is planning expansion in Europe and beyond.
But Miguel Caballero, named after its founder, is not just about body armor, it is also about style, as it points out in all corporate publicity and as is indicated by its popularity among the high and mighty, celebrities unsure about their fans and politicians who may or may not have despaired of peaceful political debate.
As security industries thrive on myriad manifestations of insecurity, from urban unrest to open warfare, companies that offer merchandise or services providing for personal security are on the rise throughout the world, according to analysts.
As business grows, Miguel Caballero is finding competition raising its head. The Miami Herald said ANXO, a body armor company based in Los Angeles, will soon open an office in Coral Gables, Fla., to make competitive offers of an array of designer leather jackets, polo shirts and formal wear.
ANXO is marketing its wares on the strength of Italian tailoring as Miguel Caballero builds on its reputation to introduce a new line for women that features cashmere and suede.
Bullet-proof polo shirts, highly regarded worldwide as the informal wear of choice, are on offer at freshpolos.com, which calls itself the official polo shirt Web site. The anti-ballistic polo shirt, part of Miguel Caballero's Black Label Collection, is world renowned "high-security fashion," says the Web site.
The polo shirt comes in four colors -- red, white, black and blue -- and with different options, depending on the level of risk. The Option IIIA polo shirt can withstand bullets from an Uzi machine gun. It is also stab-proof. U.S. retail prices range from $4,000 to $7,500, but similar or modified body armor has been exported to the world's trouble spots at much higher prices, the sources said.
Miguel Caballero and online retailers point out that the polo shirt is certified by the U.S. Department of Justice among other international certification agencies.
The wired.com online magazine commented that President Barack Obama possibly wore a specially designed armored suit at his inauguration.
The Miami Herald said security industry sources seemed unsure about the scale of demand in the U.S. market for bullet-proof high fashion.
"It is not on the minds of too many U.S. businessmen," John Sexton, president of Sexton Executive Security, told the paper. Dave Robinson, president of Tactical Intelligence International, an Orlando, Fla., company, said it did not recommend the armor to its clients worldwide.
But, Robinson said, "If it makes the clients feel safer, then it makes sense."
The London Telegraph newspaper's Philip Sherwell, who allowed Caballero to shoot him at close range in his high-fashion protective gear in Bogota, later reflected, "Who cares about dressing to kill? I was dressed to live -- and that seemed pretty good to me."
