Truemors
APEC - It's a Wrap! 
Leaders, wearing traditional Peruvian ponchos, wave during the official group photo of 16th summit of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, in Lima, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. Front row from left to right, Australia's Primer Minister Kevin Rudd, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, China's President Hu Jintao, Peru's President Alan Garcia, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso, South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Back row from left to right, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Somare, Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Taipei's former Vice President Lien Chan, Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, US President George W. Bush, Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet. (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
APEC leaders wrapped up their two day summit by posing for pictures in ponchos of native Peruvian alpaca.
With models from Paris to New York strutting down runways in Peruvian fleeces, it didn't come as much of a surprise when the heads of government emerged from Peruvian army headquarters wearing flowing, brown ponchos spun from baby alpaca shearings.
The tradition began in 1993, when Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum leaders donned leather bomber jackets for their group photo in Seattle.
Since then, they have exchanged their coats and ties each year for a traditional outfit provided by the host country.
They have worn Vietnamese silk tunics and Indonesian batik shirts. Last year in Sydney, they wore dark brown knee-length overcoats associated with Australia's sheep and cattle wranglers.
Peru's turn to host the summit came as exports of the soft, luxurious fleeces are booming, driven by demand from international fashionistas and environmentally conscious designers.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 02:24 on November 24th, 2008
I so hate the photo. plus, lien chan isn't even Taiwan's president, not to mension it's Taiwan not Taipei! Taipei is just the capital city of Taiwan. would you call Australia Canberra. Of course not! I am very disappointed by the disrespectfulness
at 02:26 on November 24th, 2008
right. who are you calling disrespectful? huh? why does it even matter to you about the Taiwanese incident? fuc*!!!