The world’s most high-profile fashion event opened in New York with a distinctly Indian foundation this year. Well before the first celebrity stepped onto the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps, a large consignment from Kerala had already arrived. The iconic “red” carpet for the 2026 Met Gala was, in fact, a cream-and-green creation woven in Alleppey, placing Indian craftsmanship at the centre of the event.

Kerala weave beneath the spotlight

For the fourth consecutive year, Neytt by Extraweave supplied the carpet for the gala. The Cherthala-based firm delivered 57 rolls of white carpet, each measuring 100 feet, to the venue. In total, 500 artisans worked over 90 days to produce the 6,840-square-foot installation.

Made entirely from sisal fibre derived from the agave plant, the carpet was engineered with a tight weave to prevent tripping or snagging, particularly for guests in thin stilettos. Though woven in India, it was later hand-painted in the United States by the Met Gala team to align with this year’s theme, “Fashion is Art”.

Indian couture blends heritage with spectacle

Indian attendees used the platform to showcase elaborate, craft-intensive ensembles. Isha Ambani appeared in a handwoven gold sari inspired by Ajanta cave paintings. The blouse alone required 40 workers and 500 hours of labour, featuring 1,000 diamonds and 800 additional precious stones. The look incorporated heirloom diamonds from Nita Ambani’s personal collection.

Sudha Reddy wore a navy velvet lehenga paired with a $15 million necklace centred on the “Queen of Merelani”, a 550-carat violet-blue tanzanite pendant. Both outfits drew heavily on traditional embroidery techniques, including zardozi and nakshi.

Members of Jaipur’s royal family, Gauravi Kumari and Sawai Padmanabh Singh, attended in Prabal Gurung designs. Gauravi Kumari’s blush pink gown included chiffon from a sari once owned by Maharani Gayatri Devi.

Fashion statements

The event also saw experimental fashion choices. Ananya Birla wore a stainless steel mask by Subodh Gupta, concealing her face entirely, paired with couture inspired by workwear. Filmmaker Karan Johar made his debut in a “power-shouldered” jacket modelled on Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings, crafted over 5,600 hours without digital intervention.

The Met Gala remains a major fundraiser, with tickets priced at about $100,000 per person and tables exceeding $350,000. Proceeds support the Costume Institute, including staff costs and preservation of more than 33,000 artefacts.