The Met Gala 2023 has made headlines, not only for its stunning outfits and extravagant accessories but also for its striped white carpet. What most people don’t know is that the carpet has a fascinating story behind it, rooted in the weaving traditions of the Indian state of Kerala.
From Kerala to the Fashion Capital of the World
The carpet was manufactured by Neytt by Extraweave, a weaving company based in Kerala’s Alappuzha. Little did they know that the carpet they were creating was for the prestigious Met Gala – fashion’s biggest night.
The Journey of the Striped Carpet
The carpet came through a long-time customer of Neytt by Extraweave in the US, Fibreworks. It was only later revealed to them that it was for the Met Gala. The design was created by the Met Gala team, and Neytt by Extraweave made a proper canvas for them to do all the paintings.
Quality and Experience Paves the Way
Sivan Santosh, the Executive Director of Neytt by Extraweave, hails from a family that has been involved in the carpet industry for 100 years. He believes that it’s the quality and experience in the domain that paved the way to the Met Gala.
The Challenging Task of Creating the Perfect Shade
This year’s carpet is the first time the Met Gala chose a lighter shade compared to previous years, which presented a challenge. It required 58 rolls and was roughly around 7000 square meters. Neytt by Extraweave had to ensure all 58 rolls looked exactly the same.
The Meticulous Process of Weaving the Sisal Fibre
The carpet was made with Sisal fibre taken from the bark of Agave cactus from Madagascar. The entire processing was done in-house. It took 70 days and 40 workers to manufacture the carpet. Once the fibre was received, it was spun into a yarn of the quality required and then woven into fine quality using mechanized weaving. The Met Gala team provided all the quality directions and suggested that other color paintings would look really good on the white-colored carpet.
The team at Neytt by Extraweave in Alappuzha is ecstatic that their weaving story is now a global story. From a small weaving company in Kerala to the Fashion Capital of the World, their contribution to the Met Gala has certainly left its mark on the world of fashion.
