"It's not just about bulletproofing with style anymore," Caballero says. "Bulletproof clothing is becoming a style."
In fact, the company held its first runway show in Guadalajara in January, featuring Mexican models sporting a new line of casual wear. Afterward, Caballero's Mexican office sold in four weeks what it had projected to sell for the year.
And in August, Caballero will open a high-end boutique in one of Mexico City's most exclusive shopping districts. The store's neighbors? Armani, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany.
That kind of cachet goes a long way. Exports jumped nearly sevenfold from 2004 to 2005 and now account for 80 percent of sales.