Indian Firm Weaves Met Gala's Magical Carpet

The distinctive white carpet unfurled for the Met Gala is crafted by Neytt by Extraweave, a company based in Kerala, India. Founded in 2021 by Sivan Santhosh and his wife Nimisha Srinivas, the firm builds upon a family tradition of carpet weaving spanning over a century. Neytt has been responsible for manufacturing the carpet for the 2022, 2023, and 2025 ceremonies, including the current year's event.

Initially unaware of the client, Santhosh and Srinivas were thrilled to discover their work was for the prestigious Met Gala. The carpet's design requirements were stringent, demanding a "blank canvas" capable of withstanding the weight of celebrity attire and footwear, ensuring no trips or snags. This involved multiple prototypes and rejections to meet the Met's precise specifications, highlighting the secretive and meticulous nature of the operation.

The Met Gala's carpet tradition is relatively recent, evolving from simple rubber treads in 1948 to full carpets by the mid-2000s, influenced by Anna Wintour's chairmanship starting in 1995. The scale and design have grown with the event, with Neytt taking over production in 2022, shifting towards a more sustainable manufacturing process. Santhosh expressed pride in his company's achievement, seeing it as an inspiration for entrepreneurs from smaller towns.

This year's event featured celebrity hosts like Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman, with Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as main financial donors, despite recent boycotts. The dress code, "Fashion is Art," draws inspiration from the Costume Institute's exhibition, encouraging guests to use their bodies as a canvas. Santhosh hopes for future recognition, including an invitation to the gala itself.