# Pizza Box Derby Hats Pizza Hut's Pizza Hat Designs Celebrate the Kentucky Derby By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-05-08 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hat References: [brandeating](http://www.brandeating.com/2014/05/news-pizza-hut-commissions-pizza-box-derby-hats-for-kentucky-derby.html) & [easybranches.eu](http://www.easybranches.eu/european-news/1630662.html) Ahead of the Kentucky Derby, [Pizza Hut](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-hut-shop) commissioned former [Project Runway](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-ad-life-insurance) season 12 contestant Angela Bacskocky to design a series of Pizza hat designs out of pizza boxes, chicken wing boxes and other miscellaneous items you might find inside a Pizza Hut. Fortunately for Angela, unconventional material challenges are given to the designers all the time on Project Runway. The hats ranged from wide-brimmed hats with carefully placed logos that formed patterns to dramatic gravity-defying fascinators. Although diverse, all of Angela's designs are larger than life and would probably seem right at home at the [Texas Derby](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/TAMU-SPIRIT). The one-of-a-kind hats were given out as part of the festivities surrounding the Derby, as well as a bunch of deals from Pizza Hut for hungry horse race fans. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Sustainable Fashion:** Creating fashion accessories using unconventional materials challenges traditional notions of sustainability and opens up opportunities for sustainable fashion brands. - **Promotional Merchandise:** Designing unique and eye-catching merchandise items like Pizza Hut's pizza box derby hats can be a disruptive way for businesses to promote their brand and engage customers. - **Experiential Marketing:** Offering one-of-a-kind, limited edition items like Pizza Hut's pizza box derby hats enhances the experiential marketing aspect of events, creating memorable experiences for attendees. ### Where This Applies - **Fashion:** Fashion brands can explore using unconventional materials and innovative designs to create unique and sustainable accessories, expanding their market appeal. - **Food and Beverage:** Food and beverage companies can find disruptive promotional opportunities by creating unique merchandise items that align with their brand and capture consumer attention. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Marketing and advertising agencies can leverage the concept of experiential marketing by incorporating limited edition merchandise into events, amplifying brand visibility and engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Whisky-Holding Derby Hats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-lids.md) - [Striking Artisan Cheese Hats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rinds-roses-collection.md) - [Pizza-Themed Gift Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-hut-shop.md) - [Wedding Pizza Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hut-6.md) - [Transformative Pizza Box Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-moving-box-table.md) - [Stylish Sweater Pizza Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hut-9.md) - [Fesitve Holiday Pizza Bundles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hut-8.md) - [Hockey-Inspired Pizza Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hockey-box.md) - [Pickle-Topped Ranch Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pickle-pizza.md)