APEC leaders wear durumagi costume of the Republic of Korea (Photo: APEC Secretariat)

VietNamNet Bridge - According to APEC tradition, the host country of the APEC summit often prepares costumes for APEC leaders to take photos in on the last day of the summit. 

This tradition began at APEC 1994 with Indonesia’s batik costume. After that, all host countries of APEC select traditional costumes for APEC leaders. 

At APEC 2004, leaders wore chamanto costume of Chile. To make a chamanto, a craftsman works for four months. The costume has two sides, light and dark. The light side is worn facing out at night and vice versa. The costume is decorated with various patterns of flowers such as dewberry, oats, grape, pensee and special birds of Chile.  

APEC leaders wear chamanto costume of Chile (Photo: APEC Secretariat)

Ambassador Milenko, General Director of APEC 2004, said that Chile chose the chamanto as the costume for APEC leaders because it reflected part of the traditional culture of Chile. 

At APEC 2005, the Republic of Korea established a national committee to choose a costume for APEC leaders. The durumagi costume was selected from nearly 26 designs submitted by 14 provinces and cities in the country. 

Durumagi include two layers, with five colours, symbolising the five basic elements in Oriental philosophy: metal, wood, water, soil, and fire. The costumes were decorated with pine, bamboo and clouds, which reflect the loyalty and truthfulness of the man of honour and the aspiration for freedom and romance. 

Vietnamese ao dai for APEC leaders (Photo: government website)

For APEC Vietnam 2006, the National Committee for APEC 2006 prepared for this event for a long time. Finally, ao dai designed by Minh Hanh were chosen. Those ao dai have lotus patterns and different styles to be suitable for both male and female leaders.  

Those outfits will be worn by APEC leaders for taking photographs on November 19 at the National Meeting Centre. 

(Source: Tuoi Tre)