Company sells bullet-resistant formal wear

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DENVER, March 7 (UPI) -- A Denver company is selling formal and business clothing with bullet-resistant panels for those who want to be protected in style.

Elite Sterling Security LLC said it is the sole U.S. distributor for the Miguel Caballero line of ballistic apparel, which is manufactured in Bogota, The Denver Post reported Thursday.

A.J. Zabadne, who founded Elite Sterling Security in August 2012, said he chose Denver due to increased security awareness from the Aurora theater shooting. He said sales of children's backpacks with ballistic panel inserts surged following the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

He said the other products being offered on the company's website and through sales reps include shirts, jackets, tuxedos and gowns with bullet-resistant panels inserted.

The company said the material used to make the panels is more effective than Kevlar.

"If you get shot wearing Kevlar, you'll fall down with a broken rib and feel like you want to vomit, but you will live," said Timothy Hogan, chief operating officer of Elite Sterling Security. "With ours, it feels like you've been hit with a water balloon."