The Kerala tale that created the Met Gala’s white carpet
The Met Gala 2023 Carpet: Made in India
The Met Gala 2023 was filled with glamorous looks, debut appearances, and even some funny moments. However, one thing that remained a constant was the beautiful carpet laid down on the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for attendees to walk on. The stunning carpet was made in India by Neytt.Extraweave, a Kerala-based brand founded by Sivan Santhosh and Nimisha Srinivas. The carpet was made sustainably and measured around 6,960 sq metres, with swirls of blue and red stripes, and was manufactured with sisal fiber taken from the Agave cactus.
Designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando and event planner Raul Àvila, the carpet took between 60-70 days to make from scratch, with inputs from Ando on the design. This is the second time the company’s carpet was laid down on the Met steps, with their first design featured in last year’s event.
The Manufacturing Process
The sisal fiber used for the carpet was sourced from Madagascar for its quality and color. The production cycle took longer than usual to ensure the carpet’s significance and quality, with the company making around 57 rolls spanning around 6,500 sq meters. The rug was then shipped to New York for hand-painting.
The carpet was machine-made in India and then hand-painted in the United States, showcasing the skill and craftsmanship of Indian artisans to the world. The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the fact that the sisal used for the carpet was of the best quality and was sourced from different regions across Africa and South America.
Pricing and Future Plans
The company was reached out to for the Met event through Kentucky-based firm FibreWorks, who considered Extraweave’s portfolio before selling them the rug for $12/sq mt. The cost of the rug was even higher when it arrived at the Met.
In the future, the company plans to scale up the Neytt brand further under a store-in-store model, with 10 stores already in place and a target of 250 in the coming years. Neytt has already collaborated with seven international designers, doing everything from concept to installation, and the brand aims to be a one-stop destination for customers in search of rugs.
Commitment to Sustainability
The company’s commitments towards sustainability are evident in their practices. They have one of the finest water treatment plants and are moving towards zero wastage when it comes to the usage of their basic products. They are also one of the few companies that pay for groundwater, and their power consumption is around 1,500 Kw. They plan to go off the grid within the next three years, having already placed a 500 Kw solar installation.
The Verdict
Overall, the Met Gala 2023 carpet made in India was a standout feature of the event, showcasing the skill and craftsmanship of Indian artisans while prioritizing sustainability. The carpet is a testament to the company’s commitment to sustainability and their aim to showcase Indian craftsmanship to the world.
