Pizza Hut Launches a Line of Pizza-Themed Apparel Pizza Hut is just one of the many fast food franchises trying to attract a younger demographic with quirky merchandise.
By Lindsay Friedman •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You may have swagger, but does it appropriately convey your love of pizza?
If not, no worries. Pizza Hut has your back, having just released a new line of pizza-themed clothing called Hut Swag. Because, as the Hut Swag hoodie declares, "pizza is bae."
Related: Pizza Hut Is Testing Uber-Esque Delivery Tracking Tech
We all may have had a dream or two that includes those delectably saucy pizza pies. So naturally, in addition to yoga pants, tank tops, T-shirts and "pizza vision" sunglasses, the new line includes a "dreaming of pizza" pillow case and a "pizza cuddles" blanket.
The Internet wasn't exactly sure how to react to the combination of yoga pants and pizza. Some embraced the idea. Others, not so much.
So I hear Pizza Hut in the States is getting their own clothing line lol. Who the heck would want to wear Pizza Hut gear?
— Jason Gray (@GrayJ76) December 23, 2015Pizza Hut now has a clothing line. ??
— Morgan Manuel (@MorganManuel6) December 29, 2015Pizza Hut Now Has a Clothing Line for Some Reason, Probably Because Pizza Clothes Are Hilarious https://t.co/0ILArO2jE1 via @theglossdotcom
— Doug Terfehr (@dougterfehr) December 29, 2015Pizza Hut created a clothing line? They have yoga pants...Ya I always want to eat pizza and then do yoga...Or do yoga and then eat pizza...?
— Leanne Pearson (@LeannePearson) January 9, 2016This isn't the first time Pizza Hut has entered the merchandise game. Around this time last year, the company came out with a limited-edition line of nail polish. Options ranged from "Dough you need me" and "Meat me after midnight." However, only 30 lucky people -- the winners of a pizza-themed Valentine's Day poetry contest -- were able to get their hands on the cheesy creations. This time around, Hut Swag is available to all online.
Pizza Hut isn't the first fast food franchise to try and entice millennials with wacky merchandise. In 2013, Taco Bell launched a line of apparel and accessories, which included items like skateboards, watches, rechargeable speakers and rings that spell spell out "Taco Bell," in addition to the expected T-shirts and hats, on its Live Mas website. And in April 2014, KFC started selling drumstick corsages just in time for prom.
Related: Taco Bell Takes a Startup Approach in Launching 'Ta.co,' Its New Website
If you're wondering who, exactly, is actually going to wear a shirt that reads "My Pizza My Life," the practice seems to be more of a branding tool than a ploy for profit. Both Taco Bell and Pizza Hut donate proceeds from their online stores to nonprofit charities -- the Taco Bell Federation For Teens and World Food Program USA, respectively.
Fun fact: We donate 100% of all net profits from the sale of Pizza Hut merchandise to @WFP. https://t.co/YP4a14cDUJ pic.twitter.com/eEFjxej9YT
— Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) January 7, 2016Good job. @pizzahut @WFP pic.twitter.com/VCZ3jjwLp1
— Daniel Brownsword (@DazzaBrownsword) January 7, 2016@pizzahut @WFP u couldn't pay me to wear that
— Jamey Dunlap (@MaddZomB) January 7, 2016
