logo
Kerala firm weaves Met Gala 2025's expansive carpet for the third time

Kerala firm weaves Met Gala 2025's expansive carpet for the third time

The Hindu06-05-2025
Every year, the Met Gala's carpet goes through its iterations, metamorphosing each time with a new theme. In 2023, one saw a stunning off-white fabric, to be a canvas for the theme of the year: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. In 2025, the red carpet took on a blue hue, dotted with stunning dainty yellow and white daffodils, at the star-spangled event — all so that celebrities could look their dandiest to accommodate the theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
Just like Shah Rukh Khan, who made his debut in an all-black ensemble by designer Sabyasachi, and musician Diljit Dosanjh enthralled in a regal Maharaja-themed outfit; the carpet, too ended up having its moment.
Woven by Neytt Homes from Kerala, it took 480 people to work on the carpet for over 90 days to meet the Met Gala standards. But this is not new to Neytt, which had its first Gala outing in 2022. The organisation wove the carpet the following year too.
For the employees of the luxury home furnishings brand based in Cherthala, Alappuzha, it is a moment of pride, says Sivan Santhosh, director, Extraweave, the parent company; and CEO of Neytt. 'A lot of care and effort have gone into the carpet. The entire team, across departments, worked together to create this beautiful piece of art,' he says.
While it was hand-painted by artists in New York, the white base carpet was sent by Neytt in 57 rolls (of four metres x 30metres). Covering an area of 6,840 square metres, the wall-to-wall carpet was woven from natural sisal fibre imported from Madagascar.
Known to be the longest, finest, and whitest of fibres, the artisans at Neytt, had to sort the fibre by hand to avoid shade variations. 'Even a slightly off-coloured thread can show up as a shade variation. We did multiple quality checks to ensure the colour was uniform,' says Sivan. 'The team covered every single detail. The boucle weave (a type of flat weave) was done in a specialised loom. For us, it feels like more than just a carpet. It is a unique confluence of art, fashion and culture,' Sivan adds.
Neytt draws from its legacy in the carpeting space. This company was started by Sivan's grandfather K Velayudhan, who set up Travancore Mats and Matting company in 1917. The brand grew over the years, exporting rugs and carpets to places across the world. Sivan's father Santhosh Velayudhan launched Extraweave Pvt. Ltd. two decades ago, taking the business a notch higher with imported machinery and expanding the company's horizons.
Neytt, founded by Sivan along with Nimisha Srinivas, works towards creating sustainable rugs and carpets using silk, sisal, seagrass, water hyacinth, lyocell, bamboo silk, linen, and recycled PET. The company also works towards empowering women from the region; over 40% of Neytt's workforce is women, including in leadership roles.
'We have been working closely with the Met Gala team for three years now and we are proud that the carpet we create is a canvas for the iconic event,' says Sivan.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BTS-Themed Rakhis Hit Indian Market And Desi Fans Are Loving It
BTS-Themed Rakhis Hit Indian Market And Desi Fans Are Loving It

News18

time25 minutes ago

  • News18

BTS-Themed Rakhis Hit Indian Market And Desi Fans Are Loving It

Last Updated: BTS group has never visited India, but they still enjoy a fan following of millions in the country. BTS might have never stepped in India, but that doesn't mean they don't have ardent fans here. The country is among the top ones when it comes to streaming their songs and solo projects. If anything, the K-pop supergroup has a fan following of millions in India. So much so that their presence is felt everywhere, even without BTS ever setting foot here. From school notebooks to soft toys, key chains, and whatnot, you name it, and you will definitely find some unofficial merchandise with their faces on it. The latest item to join the craze is a BTS-themed rakhi for the upcoming festival of Rakshabandhan. A fan in Hyderabad recently discovered a store selling rakhis featuring motifs of RJ, a cute alpaca character created by Jin for the BT21 brand. These cute rakhis were likely priced between Rs 10 and Rs 15, making them perfectly affordable for everyone. dudee we got rj rakhis Fans React To Rakhis With RJ's Face In no time, ARMYs took note of the viral post and started sharing how they might buy such rakhis to wear as bracelets, while another section also discussed BTS' popularity in India. 'Mereko rakhi pehna do (tie this rakhi to me). I promise I'll protect you," said one user. Another added, 'I'm not even a Hindu, but WELL GIVE IT TO ME IMMA KEEP IT AS A GIFT." A different fan mischievously commented, 'I will buy it if it's available in my area in the name of my brother for myself." Is BTS Coming To India? Ever since the BTS members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – completed their military services, fans eagerly waited for the announcement of their new project. And they did not disappoint. They not only announced a brand-new album, scheduled for release between March and May 2026, but BTS also spoke about their highly anticipated world tour. With this announcement, and the launch of HYBE India by September or October of this year, the buzz surrounding their shows has intensified. There is a possibility that BTS might organise shows in India as part of their world tour, but nothing is confirmed as of now. Right now, the seven members are in the US, working on their upcoming album. In the meantime, there is a possibility of solo projects from the septet in the coming months. Also, they made their return to the music scene, as a unit, after three years with the live album, Permission to Dance On Stage- Live, which was released on July 18. First Published: July 23, 2025, 15:08 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Elon Musk's Tesla Diner Now Open: Showing Futuristic ‘The Jetsons', Robots Serving Popcorn
Elon Musk's Tesla Diner Now Open: Showing Futuristic ‘The Jetsons', Robots Serving Popcorn

News18

time4 hours ago

  • News18

Elon Musk's Tesla Diner Now Open: Showing Futuristic ‘The Jetsons', Robots Serving Popcorn

Elon Musk's Tesla Diner is a two-storey building. There are charging stations, a rooftop drive-in, and even a humanoid robot called "Optimus" serving popcorn. After years of talk and a soft launch over the weekend, Elon Musk's Tesla Diner, a full drive-in movie theatre, officially opened late Monday. The diner is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, at the site of a former Shakey's Pizza restaurant. The new setup is both retro and futuristic. It combines a classic American diner with Tesla-themed features. There are charging stations, a rooftop drive-in, and even a humanoid robot called 'Optimus" serving popcorn. As per a NBC News report, the fans started queuing at sunrise. Inside the two-storey building, customers were greeted by servers on roller skates. They offered free samples of ice cream. The rooftop theatre played old shows like The Jetsons, adding to the nostalgic feel. Los Angeles chef Eric Greenspan designed the menu. It includes grilled cheese, fried chicken and waffles, and tuna melts. There are also Tesla-themed items like the Tesla Burger with Electric Sauce. Prices range from $4 for sides to $15 for main dishes. Many fans waited in the heat with no clear update on when the diner would open. Despite the confusion, the mood remained cheerful. Some people shared snacks and chatted about Tesla cars. A few brought lawn chairs and made a day of it. Here's What Foodies And Fans Said Some fans came in their Cybertrucks and Tesla vehicles. They hoped to use the new Supercharger stations, but they were not working during the wait. One visitor, Tracy Kuss from San Diego, said she arrived at 8 am but was worried about her battery running low. 'I need to be the first to charge," she joked. Another couple, YouTuber, Everyday Chris and his wife Janice, arrived at 5:30 am. They were excited to see the robot and the space-themed bathrooms that had gone viral online. Many Tesla influencers attended the event. A Cybertruck with Dogecoin graphics drew extra attention. Tesla Diner is retro-futuristic diner & drive-in charging experience all wrapped into one80 V4 Supercharger stalls are open to all NACS-compatible EVs, making it the largest urban Supercharger in the world — Tesla (@Tesla) July 22, 2025 But Not Everyone Was Celebrating Not everyone was there to celebrate. A local protester held a sign that read, 'Elon Musk save America from evil Trump and his puppets." Musk's political ties have brought controversy in recent years. His brief role in the Department of Government Efficiency also led to backlash. There should be more things like this — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 22, 2025 Musk later posted on X that if the diner does well, he plans to open more. These diners may come to other cities and Supercharger stops around the world. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Exclusive: Here's why Khan families gave Saiyaara premiere a miss
Exclusive: Here's why Khan families gave Saiyaara premiere a miss

India Today

time4 hours ago

  • India Today

Exclusive: Here's why Khan families gave Saiyaara premiere a miss

'Saiyaara' is currently turning out to be a phenomenon. With a box office collection of over Rs 100 crore in just four days, the Mohit Suri-directorial has surpassed all expectations, emerging as the biggest hit of the year. The film was launched without much fanfare, even though it launched promising debutants, Ahaan Panday, cousin of Ananya Panday and Aneet fact, if one may remember, the premiere of the film did not boast of many established names from the industry, including the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who are close to the Panday family. Not just that, Khans and YRF go a long way too. However, a source informed us that this was not coincidental. It was by design, just like keeping Ahaan and Aneet Padda away from the limelight till the debut was a strategic Today has exclusively learnt that the decision to keep the high-profile stars away was intentional. Sources confirm that producer Aditya Chopra opted for a deliberately low-key screening, held just a day before the film's theatrical release. The idea was to keep the focus squarely on the film and its young cast, without drawing media attention with the presence of industry heavyweights. Apart from their strong personal connections, Shah Rukh Khan and his family are close to YRF and Ahaan Panday's family, while Salman Khan shares a long-standing rapport with the Panday family. The Jawan' actor is currently out of the country, shooting for his upcoming project 'King'. However, none of his family members attended the screening either. On the other hand, Salman, who was in town, gave it a screening was attended only by the cast, a few industry insiders, and friends from the younger generation. Notably absent were any A-list names as an age of star-powered promotions, 'Saiyaara' stands out for its restraint, both in marketing and in red-carpet appearances.- EndsTrending Reel

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store