From Kerala to New York: Indian firm crafts Met Gala’s signature carpet

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has received dozens of rolls of white carpet ahead of this year’s Met Gala, which will be laid across its iconic Fifth Avenue steps and transformed into the centrepiece for one of the world’s most high-profile fashion evenings.

Behind the carpet is 35-year-old Sivan Santhosh, co-owner of Neytt by Extraweave, a firm that has been producing carpets for the Met Gala since 2022.

The company, founded by Santhosh and his wife Nimisha Srinivas in 2021, continues a family legacy of carpet weaving spanning more than a century. This year, the firm has supplied 57 rolls of white carpet, each nearly 100 feet long, which will be hand-painted shortly before the event.

Santhosh reportedly said the company was initially unaware that it was working on the Met Gala project due to confidentiality agreements. 

The carpet, described as a “blank canvas” for artists, is designed to withstand the weight and movement of elaborate outfits worn by attendees. Santhosh reportedly stated that they make the weave tighter so that celebrities in stilettos don’t trip and that garments do not get caught.

The installation process remains highly restricted, with a dedicated team in New York handling the laying and painting of the carpet under strict security protocols.

The Met Gala, which began in 1948 as a fundraising event, has evolved into a major global fashion spectacle. The red carpet element was introduced gradually, gaining prominence under the leadership of Anna Wintour from the mid-1990s onwards.

In recent years, the carpet itself has become an integral part of the event’s visual identity, reflecting its themes. Neytt took over production in 2022, replacing a US-based supplier, as part of a shift towards more sustainable manufacturing practices.

The Met Gala has hosted numerous high-profile moments on its carpet, featuring appearances by global celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Doja Cat in previous editions.

This year’s event is expected to draw a star-studded guest list, including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Businessman Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are among the key financial backers of the accompanying exhibition.

The dress code for this year’s gala, “Fashion is Art”, is inspired by the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition and is expected to encourage experimental and sculptural fashion choices.

While Santhosh has not attended the event, he said he hoped to receive recognition from organisers in the future.