Onam dressing usually comes with a fairly predictable checklist: kasavu, gold jewellery and a traditional silhouette. Liza Mariyam Stanley decided to leave the checklist behind. For her latest festive photoshoot, the nurse and stylist used a traditional thazhappaya (woven reed mat) to create a saree, pairing the unusual garment with tribal jewellery for a look that is equal parts nostalgic, experimental and distinctly Kerala.

From a humble mat to an Onam saree

A saree made from a traditional mat is certainly not something you see every day. And that, says Liza, was precisely the point.

Rather than following the usual Onam fashion formula, she wanted to create something that felt different. She had initially considered making trousers and a crop top using the material, but the idea eventually evolved into a saree.

"I wanted to move away from the styles everyone is doing and create something of my own," Liza says.

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Her approach to fashion is largely driven by research and curation. Instead of simply picking up what is trending, she prefers to spend time putting together a look from scratch, from finding the right fabric to choosing jewellery that works with it.

The idea of doing something with a thazhappaya had actually been on her mind since last year. She eventually found someone who could weave the mat to the measurements required for a saree. A thicker variety of the traditional mat was used for the outfit.

The saree itself combines the woven mat with linen, while tribal jewellery completes the look. The result is striking without losing the earthy character of the material.

Liza had finished working on the design as early as June. Even the jewellery was carefully curated rather than picked as an afterthought.

"My Onam is about to look a little different this year. A little more contemporary. A little more unexpected. But still rooted in everything we love about the season.

The black sari and pallu that made with kaithola plant leaf, way to earth natural handmade mat- Kaitha paya/ Thazha paya.

I am always a fan of big statement neck pieces but this time I tried tribal one. Ethereal feather ear cuff, septum and ancient coin choker - which are thoughtful and reflects your personality.

Brown and red wooden stack #girls of dashia

Own the moment and own the tradition…..

A reminder that nature has always been the greatest artistic,” she wrote.

It took more than a good idea

The finished photographs may look effortless, but the shoot came with its own challenges.

Liza was unwell at the time and her health was particularly poor during the shoot. She even felt dizzy and collapsed during the session. Yet she was determined to complete the look she had imagined.

"I never expected it to go this viral. I only wanted to bring something different," she says.

The response, however, made the effort worthwhile. The positive comments and reactions helped her forget how difficult the shoot had been.

For Liza, the project was never really about creating a viral fashion moment. It was about seeing whether an idea that had been sitting in her head for months could actually work.

A passion that began at home

Liza, who hails from Kayamkulam in Alappuzha, has been balancing her nursing career with her passion for styling and modelling for around 12 years.

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She has not formally studied fashion or design. Much of her interest comes from growing up watching her mother, Leelamma, work on crafts. That early exposure seems to have stayed with her and gradually found its way into the way she approaches clothes and styling today.

Her process is less about following a particular fashion rule and more about experimenting. She researches ideas, looks for unusual materials, puts together jewellery and clothing, and works out how the different elements can come together.

"I enjoy finding the fabric and curating the jewellery. It is something that makes me happy," she says.

Her father, CK Stanley, and mother, Leelamma, have also been a constant source of support as she has pursued these interests alongside her nursing career.

Not your usual Onam fashion

The thazhappaya saree has predictably sparked plenty of curiosity online. Some people have called it a reminder of forgotten rural Kerala, while others have been impressed by the way Liza has brought together traditional culture and contemporary styling.

And perhaps that is what makes the look particularly interesting.

The material is familiar. The saree is familiar. Even the idea of wearing traditional jewellery during Onam is nothing new. But bringing all three together in this particular way gives them a completely different character.

Liza has also shared other unconventional Onam looks on her social media page. She says she had been keen on creating an outfit without the conventional kasavu element this time, and the idea finally came together.

Her Onam look has caught attention online, not just because of its novelty, but because it takes a material many Malayalis grew up seeing at home and gives it a completely unexpected place in festive fashion.