From Cherthala to the Global Fashion Stage
A luxury design brand from Cherthala, Kerala, has earned international recognition for creating the carpet at the Met Gala. Behind this achievement are Sivan Santhosh and Nimisha Srinivas, the husband-and-wife team who founded Neytt by Extraweave to showcase Indian craftsmanship through contemporary design.
Their journey highlights how traditional weaving skills can find a place at one of the world’s most closely watched fashion events.
A Family Legacy Spanning Generations
The story begins with a family business established in 1917, rooted in Kerala’s mat-making and weaving traditions. For decades, the company manufactured products for international markets, often without the recognition that came with the finished goods.
Sivan later returned to the family business after working in the United States. His experience on the factory floor helped him understand the value of the artisans’ skills and inspired him to build a brand that could tell its own design story.
How Neytt Became a Luxury Design Brand
Launched in 2021, Neytt was created to move beyond manufacturing and develop distinctive, story-driven products. Nimisha, the brand’s creative director, brings her communication and creative experience to its design approach.
One of the brand’s early rugs drew inspiration from Kerala’s response to the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019. Its motifs incorporated references to the state’s traditional kasavu textiles, fishing boats and community solidarity, demonstrating how local experiences could inspire contemporary design.
Kerala’s Culture Inspires Contemporary Design
Neytt draws inspiration from Kerala’s cultural and natural heritage, including snake boat races, kasavu saree borders, traditional metal mirrors and the textures of coir. Rather than reproducing these elements literally, the brand translates their forms and emotions into modern rugs and textiles.
Its wider material palette includes natural fibres such as sisal, jute, banana fibre and hemp, alongside other regionally sourced materials. This approach places Indian craft traditions at the centre of the design process.
The Craft Behind the Met Gala Carpet
Neytt’s work for the Met Gala has brought its manufacturing expertise to a global audience. The carpet must meet demanding requirements, including a consistent finish, durability and a tightly woven surface suitable for high heels and elaborate gowns.
The production process involves detailed sampling, repeated quality checks and the coordinated efforts of hundreds of workers over several months. The carpets are manufactured in Kerala before being shipped to New York, where the event’s finishing and decorative work takes place.
The project has also helped draw attention to the artisans whose skills make large-scale luxury design possible.
Sustainability as Part of Production
The company says its manufacturing operations incorporate measures such as solar power, water recycling and rainwater harvesting. Its focus on natural fibres and production practices reflects a wider interest in making luxury products with greater attention to materials and environmental impact.
For Neytt, sustainability is connected to the practical demands of working with natural materials, as well as growing expectations from international design buyers for transparency about how products are made.
A New Chapter for Indian Luxury
Sivan and Nimisha’s journey illustrates how a business rooted in regional craftsmanship can build an international identity without abandoning its origins. Their work challenges the assumption that global luxury design must come from established fashion capitals.
By combining Kerala’s textile heritage with contemporary design and careful production, Neytt is helping bring greater visibility to Indian artisans. Its story offers a reminder that local knowledge and traditional skills can become powerful sources of innovation on the global stage.