Business feature: Clovis woman does Derby in style

The Kentucky Derby is not just a sporting event. It promotes itself as the "most exciting two minutes in sports."

And you can't wear just anything. "Your hat for the Derby is not just another accessory," explained Clovis' Maria Waters. "It should make a statement and be as unique as you."

So when Waters and her husband Bob put the Run for the Roses on their bucket list, Maria turned to William Robins and Sway Productions to top off her wardrobe with a couple of hats.

"I told (William) I want to walk into a room and have people think 'Wow, look at that great hat,'" Maria said.

He created some winners, she said.

"William designed my hats that expressed my personality. They were uniquely made just for me," Waters said Monday after Saturday's race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. "He took into account not only my personality but also what I was wearing.

"On Sunday, I was told I had the perfect 'H to T look.' That's Hat to Toe. And it all started with my hat."

The look was even included as part of a Derby photo essay published in the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper.

Robins is probably best known around Clovis for his dress designs. His Sway Productions has been especially busy the past few weeks creating prom dresses. But when Waters asked him to create a Derby hat, he embraced the challenge.

"I am open to doing just about anything," he said. "I'm one of those creative design people where I am not about sitting down and making five, 10, 15 things of the same thing over and over and trying to sell them. I like doing one-of-a-kind things ..."

As for the horse race, won by Media Spirit, Maria said she and Bob had a great time. "It's just an awesome experience," she said. " I don't know how to explain it, it's just one of those bucket list things that I think everyone should do at least once. The people there were extremely friendly and helpful."

Best of all, she was dressed for the occasion.

"I'm very thankful for William's talent," she said. "He didn't just design a couple of hats. In my opinion, he designed masterpieces!"