The Met Gala red carpet has witnessed countless iconic moments: Doja Cat dressed as Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's legendary gown, and Rihanna's pregnancy reveals. But behind the scenes, a meticulous process ensures the carpet is flawless. Ellie Muir speaks with Sivan Santhosh, who has crafted the event's red carpet since 2022, about creating the most scrutinized runway in fashion.
The Arrival of the Carpet
In March, the Metropolitan Museum of Art received 57 rolls of pristine white carpet, each nearly 100 feet long. Stored securely until around 3 a.m. on the first Monday in May, the fabric is unfurled down the museum's Fifth Avenue steps and hand-painted by a team of artists, transforming into a stage for hundreds of VIPs. The man behind these 73,625 square feet is 35-year-old Sivan Santhosh, co-owner of Neytt by Extraweave, based in Kerala, India. He started the company with his wife, Nimisha Srinivas, in 2021, continuing a family legacy of carpet weaving that spans over a century. Neytt has manufactured the Met Gala red carpet for the 2022, 2023, and 2025 ceremonies, as well as this year's event.
A Secretive Beginning
Santhosh's carpets have seen it all: Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's dress, Doja Cat as Choupette, and two Rihanna bump reveals. Only after months of creating the first carpet were Santhosh and Srinivas told that the NDA-shrouded event was the Met Gala. "We started with initial prototyping, but we didn't know who the client was," Santhosh told The Independent. "Only once samples were approved were we told, and we were ecstatic. But because we're from a small town, nobody knew the scale of the Met Gala until it came out in the press."
Celebrity-Proof Weaving
The Met's brief called for a "blank canvas" for artists, but the carpet had to withstand the weight of extravagant looks. "We make the weave tighter so celebrities in stilettos don't trip and their garments don't get caught," Santhosh explains. "Even a tiny blemish could be visible." Neytt went through multiple prototypes and rejections to get it right. The laying and decorating process is so secretive that even Santhosh's team is not involved. "They have their own dedicated team in New York," he says. "No phones are allowed in the vicinity – it's very private." Still, Santhosh remains on edge. "We're on our toes all the time, and we wait till the event is over for final feedback."
Evolution of the Red Carpet
The Met Gala didn't always have a red carpet. In 1948, it was just rubber treads on concrete steps. When Anna Wintour took over in 1995, guests still arrived on concrete, snagging their gowns. In the mid-2000s, red runners appeared, expanding into a full carpet later. In 2016, a cream rug with red and pink color-blocking was used; in 2019, a Barbie pink rug. Until 2022, a New Jersey firm produced the carpets before Neytt took over, aiming for sustainable manufacturing.
A Proud Moment for India
Santhosh's favorite carpet was last year's midnight blue design with daffodils for the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style." "It was nice to see people dress up and show their roots," he says. The role is an honor for his family in Cherthala, Kerala, following his grandfather who founded a carpet business in 1917. "When we got the job, it was a proud moment for the company and for India," Santhosh says. "Lots of entrepreneurs have reached out, and we're happy to inspire people to dream bigger."
Monday night's event will be star-studded, with Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams as honorary hosts alongside Wintour. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are lead sponsors, a choice that has sparked boycotts. The dress code, "Fashion is Art," encourages guests to use their bodies as a canvas. While Santhosh won't be there, he hopes for a direct message from Wintour. "Not yet… hopefully soon," he says. "Hopefully, we'll also get invited to the Met Gala one day."
