Met Gala carpet made from sisal

Many iconic celebrities made their entrance to the 2025 Met Gala in New York, walking on a large blue carpet made from sisal and handcrafted in India.

Sisal is a natural fibre made from the agave cactus plant. At one time, its main use was in ropemaking, but it is now popular for durable carpets that are sustainable and feature a rustic texture.

Nyatt by Extraweave, founded five years ago by Sivan Santhosh and Nimisha Srinivas, is based in Cherthala, India. One of their US clients, Fiber Works, recommended the company to the Met Gala organisers, who commissioned them to make the official red carpet.

The carpet makers used sisal fibre from Brazil, Tanzania and Madagascar. It took 90 days to make the Met Gala carpet. 500 skilled workers produced 57 rolls of carpet, covering approximately 6,840 square metres. After the huge carpet arrived in the USA, it was hand-painted with a pattern of white petal flowers on a textured blue background.

Sivan Santhosh summarised his company’s approach to making handcrafted luxury carpets:

“We always prioritise quality and execute our work with precision.”

The Met Gala organisers are not the first prestigious client for the company. It has previously installed carpets in Buckingham Palace and the White House.

A large handcrafted and hand-painted carpet made by hundreds of craftsmen is beyond the budget of most UK households, but quality sisal carpets and rugs are available at more affordable prices from a carpet retailer in Chester.