480 Artisans, 90 Days, and One Stunning Indian Carpet At The MET Gala

A cavalcade of bespoke blazers, elegant pinstripes, a full-blown maharaja moment, glimmering jewels, and an abundance of superfine tailoring defined the sartorial theatre of the MET Gala 2025. As the momentous spectacle receded into the after-party, a cobalt carpet witnessed the parade of ‘who wore whom—and what.’ On the first Monday of May, as A-list actors, influencers, editors, and designers walked up the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum, one striking presence stood out —a resplendent cobalt carpet representing India. Hand-painted with delicate floral motifs, this exquisite carpet was crafted in Kerala by Neytt Homes in collaboration with Extraweave, echoing the MET Gala 2025’s evocative theme, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.’

How Kerala Craftsmanship Reimagined the MET Gala Carpet

Given that this year’s theme was a homage to precision, heritage, and Black sartorial identity, the carpet’s Indian provenance offered a fitting complement, seamlessly weaving the story of artisanal looms into the evening’s tapestry of tailored elegance. India’s connection with the MET Gala carpet began well before 2025. Shifting away from traditional wool carpets, MET Gala designers in 2022 opted for a natural fibre rug, crafted from sisal, derived from the bark of the agave plant, native to East Africa and Central America.

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Enter a custodian based in southern Kerala—Neytt by Extraweave, with a legacy that dates back over a century. Founded in 2021 by Sivan Santhosh and Nimisha Srinivas as a creative offshoot of the rug manufacturing giant Extraweave, the brand’s roots go back to 1917, when Santhosh’s grandfather, K. Velayudhan, launched The Travancore Mats and Matting Co.— a legacy later modernised by Santhosh’s father with the founding of Extraweave in 2000. Consequently, an alliance between MET Gala designers and Neytt Homes began in 2022 with a regal crimson expanse edged in soft cream—an opulent nod to the evening’s theme, ‘Gilded Glamour and White Tie.’ In 2023, the carpet featured a refined cream canvas, traced with sinuous ribbons of red and blue, that embodied the theme of ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.’ 

By 2025, this evolving narrative by Neytt Homes reached a crescendo with a midnight blue canvas, intricately punctuated by white and yellow floral motifs, mirroring the evening’s celebration of Black Dandyism. “Manufacturing the red carpet for the MET Gala for the third year, our carpet feels like more than just a fabric – it’s a vibrant thread in a tapestry of art, fashion, and culture,” reveal the designers.

Few know that before Neytt’s carpets were unfurled beneath couture-clad stilettos and the shoes of the MET Gala icons, a distinct creation from their atelier was laid at the White House during a head of state’s ceremonial visit. With its precision and craftsmanship, the brand boasts a roster of global partnerships with names like IKEA and Ralph Lauren Home, emerging as a symbol of fine floor couture. 

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From Local Looms to Global Spotlight

The 63,000-square-foot carpet unfurled like a well-cut fabric, ushering guests into the museum. Amidst the lush landscape of Kerala, over 480 artisans and technicians worked for 90 days to perfect every edge, strand, and seam according to the MET Gala’s chic yardsticks. These artisans hand-sorted the sisal sourced from Madagascar, spinning it into a rich bouclé weave, whose dense, looped curls subtly catch the light, transforming the carpet into a storyteller of legacy, labour, and couture. “We sent 57 rolls of 4 x 30 meters for this project, i.e., 6,840 sq m.,” the founders disclose, underscoring the sheer scale and ambition behind the masterpiece’s base. 

Motifs As Metaphor 

The carpet’s motif—a narcissus flower, or more commonly a daffodil—was only envisioned by an American painter and sculptor, Cy Gavin, who drew inspiration from the spring perennial flourishing outside his remote New York studio. Gavin’s work weaves identity through rugged landscapes, where every saturated hue breathes life into the jagged edges of self-discovery. Similarly, as the MET Gala unfolded on the first Monday of May, the carpet’s floral motifs unfurled with a seasonal symbolism, intertwining seamlessly with the evening’s festivities—all while heralding the beginning of spring.

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While the floral theme perfectly echoed the spirit of spring, the narcissus flower debuted for its deeper layer of meaning, one rooted in the Greek myth of Narcissus. Amidst the many versions of the myth, the artist focused on one deeply moving moment: when Narcissus first gazes at his reflection in the water and discovers self-recognition and appreciation. This moment in the myth resonates deeply with the artist’s exploration of identity and with the exhibition’s theme, which examines Black dandyism and identity. 

In a world that often imposes multiple identities, the artist, through this carpet, reflects the complexity of self. Gavin’s vision took shape in ‘Untitled Sky,’ a work where narcissus flowers resemble stars in a night sky—a motif that was prominently projected onto the ‘Temple of Dendur’ inside the museum during the gala. Set designer Derek McLane and event planner Raúl Àvila took Gavin’s motif and transformed it into a stunning reality, extending the narcissus-inspired design across the carpet spanning the MET’s iconic stairs.  

The carpet transcended its role as a mere fabric, emerging as a living testament to culture, identity, and renewal. As it unfurled across the historic steps of the MET, it carried the soul of its homeland across vast oceans, telling stories of ancient looms and skilled hands that tirelessly crafted a masterpiece in Kerala. Beneath the stars, it became a symbol of heritage and artistry, capturing the essence of distant lands while gathering the stardust of the evening’s celebration – an ode to fine craftsmanship and artistic expression.