The Untold Story of the Met Gala Red Carpet
The Met Gala, renowned for its extravagant fashion and star-studded guest list, also features a meticulously crafted carpet that undergoes significant design and installation efforts each year. Ted Resnick, owner of Flemington Department Store in New Jersey, has been responsible for sourcing and installing the Met Gala carpet for nearly two decades. Initially, his role involved placing treads on the museum's staircase for safety, which later evolved into laying a full carpet. A pivotal development occurred when event planners decided to paint the carpet, posing a challenge for Resnick. He discovered that woven sisal, known for its flat and absorbent qualities, was the ideal material to hold paint effectively, and he now sources a substantial quantity of it annually.
Phillip Bland, a decorative artist based on Long Island, has been the artisan behind the carpet's painting for the past seven years. His involvement began through his work with Anna Wintour on her personal residences. The carpet's creation is a collaborative process involving Raúl Àvila, the gala’s décor designer, and Bland, who works to translate the design vision onto the sisal. This intricate process commences months in advance with planning and sample approvals, culminating in a multi-day installation. The final section, covering the Met's iconic steps, is typically installed on the day of the event, starting in the early hours of the morning, highlighting the tight schedule and complexity of the operation.
The Met Gala’s evolution into a prominent red-carpet event is a relatively recent phenomenon. Its origins in the 1940s were as a more traditional New York society gathering. Diana Vreeland transformed it into a fashion-centric party when she became director of the Met's Costume Institute in 1972, also introducing the thematic approach that still characterizes each gala. Anna Wintour's leadership from 1995 further elevated the event's profile. However, guests initially navigated the museum steps without a carpet. It was not until the mid-2000s that the decision was made to introduce small red stair treads, marking the beginning of the carpeted entrance.
The design of the carpet has become increasingly elaborate and integral to the gala's theme. The traditional red carpet evolved with the 2016 "Manus x Machina" theme, featuring a cream rug with red and pink color-blocking. Subsequent years have seen a diverse array of designs, such as a minimalist white rug with cobalt-blue borders for the 2017 Comme des Garçons theme, a cathedral-inspired rug for the 2018 "Heavenly Bodies" gala, and a vibrant Pepto-pink rug for 2019's "Camp" theme. Last year's carpet incorporated light-green botanical borders, and the 2022 gala featured a textured red, white, and blue design. Bland receives information about the annual theme months in advance, allowing him to develop appropriate designs, often working with stencils or sprayers in a friend's furniture warehouse. The entire process requires meticulous planning and execution to ensure the carpet complements the event's aesthetic and the elaborate ensembles worn by attendees.
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