The Colombian Miguel Caballero, recognized for designing and making security garments that have even dressed 41 heads of state, now focuses its efforts on serving Ukrainea nation on which the world has turned its gaze due to the invasion of Russia.
(Also read: Russian forces move northeast of Kiev to surround the capital)
From his factory, located on the outskirts of Bogotá, Caballero is in charge of MC Armor, which he gave life to 30 years ago with 10 dollars, and which now has almost 700 employees who sew, glue, paint, assemble and deliver products. that “protect people’s lives”.
Dressed in a white coat, the businessman tells ‘Efe’ that his thing at the moment with Ukraine is not to profit from the war, but to save lives because there he is mainly exporting vests and helmets that protect the lives of doctors, nurses, journalists and other civilians living in the horrors of the invasion that began on February 24.
“Since the war began, they have requested products from us. It has been a very high demand and we have been serving it for civilian personnel, especially doctors, nurses and others from humanitarian organizations who are there caring for people and who, therefore, need protection. to develop their activitiesremarks the businessman who declares himself against warmongering.
(You can read: Two weeks of invasion of Ukraine: what is the balance of the war?).
Due to the situation in Ukraine, the company joined the ‘We stand with Ukraine’ initiative, which seeks to support the invaded.
After almost three weeks of conflict, the most serious in Europe since World War II, the balance is thousands of dead, millions displaced and Ukrainian cities reduced to ruins.
As the conflict has escalated, the Colombian company multiplies its efforts to meet more than a hundred requests that the United States, Spain, England and Belgium have made so far to donate to Ukraine.
(We recommend: Ukrainian soldier goes viral on TikTok with videos for his daughter.)
Don’t profit from war
MC Armor, says Caballero, prides itself on the fact that all its production is “one hundred percent Colombian” and that, in addition to serving the government sector, it has also done so with the Military Forces, the Police and sectors of 23 governments around the world. .
“Now we have a great challenge and that is to meet the demand from Ukraine. A few days ago we were able to make the first shipment of 2,000 vests and 2,000 cases. Soon we will be sending another 2,000 vests and another 2,000 helmets”details Caballero, who is the executive president of the company.
When asked if his company profits from the war, he is blunt: “No.” And he explains: “I am not part of the war, we do not sell weapons, we do not sell ammunition, tank weapons, our mission is to save human life.”
He reinforces his argument by recalling that despite the Ukraine-Russia situation, the cost of his garments, such as vests, maintain the price of 500 or 600 dollars.
I am not part of the war, we do not sell weapons, we do not sell ammunition, tank weapons, our mission is to save the life of the human being
“If one is going to buy this in other countries like the United States, the garment does not go below 2,000 dollars. Our interest is not to profit from the war, but to help defend the people who are there with our garments,” he says.
Knight’s products are today in 52 countriesmarkets that allowed it to grow last year in the midst of the pandemic by 21%, a figure that it hopes to equal, at least, this year.
“The fact that there is war does not mean that we live from war because the same thing happens to us with the value carriers that we serve, which are from Chile to Mexico and we protect them all. We are a protection and prevention company,” remarks Caballero. , known as the “Armani” of armored clothing.
The company also makes clothing and other safety items for escorts traveling by motorcycle, for which there is a whole line.
(Also read: Negotiation between Russia and Ukraine ended without progress)
No margin of error
In a section of the factory, now packed with vests, helmets, jackets, is María Rosalba Tapias Parra, who has been with the company for 30 years and is the “assembly and dispatch” coordinator of everything that is produced there.
Vests, t-shirts, jackets, overcoats, shirts, guayaberas and other garments that will protect the body from those who in the future They will dress them.
“In the assembly, which is where the armor pieces are put on the clothing so that it is armored, work is done, as in each production step, with great care. A poorly assembled part can cause a problem”says Tapias as he checks a black vest that differentiates it from other blue ones that bears the “press” badge in white letters.
At his side, other workers check clothes and accessories that “are going to save lives,” remarks Tapias, who, with a soft voice, affirms that what is assembled for women are jackets, vests and white t-shirts, which at the moment do not go to Ukraine but yes to other markets.
“In one day, between 600 and 800 vests can be assembled, which must be carefully checked to avoid any problem,” says María Rosalba, raising her hand to her head to strengthen her expression, because “here there is no margin for error “.
(Keep reading: Do you know what the ‘raspútitsa’, Putin’s meteorological enemy, is?)
EFE
#Colombian #exports #armored #clothing #Ukraine #protect #civilians