MAM
SPOYL launches official merchandise for ‘The Archies’ movie
Mumbai: SPOYL, the fashion destination for Gen Z on Flipkart, is launching the official merchandise for the upcoming 1960s Netflix film ‘The Archies’ by Zoya Akhtar. Featuring over 300 limited edition styles, the Archies Gang collection includes a wide range of apparel, footwear, and accessories spanning retro classics and modern silhouettes. In a first-of-its-kind association, SPOYL and Netflix have joined hands to usher in a new era of nostalgic styles inspired by some of the most iconic pop-culture characters of our time. Shoppers can channel the style of the iconic Archies cast – Archie, Reggie, Veronica, Betty, Jughead, Moose, Ethel and Dilton, by choosing from a collection of trendy t-shirts, dresses, loungewear and more, starting at Rs 799/-.
Since its launch in August this year, SPOYL has witnessed tremendous traction from Gen Z fashion shoppers across the country. Shoppers in the 15-24 age group account for over 57 per cent engagement on the Flipkart platform today. As Gen Z shoppers continue to embrace a mix of styles spanning across 90s grunge, Y2K, Kpop, cottagecore, and gender-neutral fashion, their deep connection with social media, pop culture and global trends is palpable. Building on this momentum, the SPOYL X Archies collaboration marks the beginning of a new journey to make it the go-to destination for top trendy pop culture styles in the country.
Announcing the Archies collection launch, Flipkart Fashion Sr director Abhishek Maloo said, “With SPOYL, our mission is to provide every Gen Z fashion shopper in the country with the greatest value on trendy fashion offerings. We are thrilled to unveil the Archies collection which has been a special collaboration between fashion and entertainment in India – and the start of a new journey for us at SPOYL. We will continue to identify the best avenues that enable us to bring the best of fashion to millions of customers across India through our growing network of sellers.”
Here’s your style guide to get your favorite Archies character from SPOYL:
● Channel Betty’s chic form-fitting style with mini skirts, dresses and collared shirts layered under a vest
● Get Veronica’s effortless girl-next-door vibe with bell bottoms, pinafores and embracing prints – from florals, polka dot to checkered
● The iconic Archie jock look can be donned with bomber jackets, plaid shirts and monochromatic sweaters
● Laid back Jughead’s vibe can be recreated with striped jackets, monotone layering and of course, the quintessential cap or snapback
Around 40 per cent of new customers explore Flipkart through fashion today and customers aged between 25-35 years contribute to the highest demand observed in fashion segments on Flipkart, with top choices including t-shirts, shirts, jeans and shoes.
MAM
Brands push beyond compliance as trust takes centre stage
ASCI AdTrust Summit 2026 spotlights shift from legal checks to credibility.
MUMBAI: In a world where a disclaimer can be legally sound yet socially suspect, brands are learning that compliance may tick boxes but trust wins markets. At the inaugural ASCI AdTrust Summit 2026, a panel on “Beyond Compliance: The New Currency of Trust” unpacked a growing industry reality: the gap between what the law permits and what consumers accept is widening and fast.
Moderated by Meenakshi Ramkumar of National Law School of India University, the discussion brought together leaders across law, marketing and academia to examine how brands must evolve in a digital ecosystem increasingly shaped by scrutiny, scepticism and speed.
Ramkumar set the tone by highlighting a critical shift, advertising today operates in the same digital space that fuels misinformation, scams and fake news, making credibility harder to establish. “The challenge is not just about what brands do, but the broader context of low institutional trust,” she noted, adding that when violations go unchecked, trust erodes not just in brands but in the regulatory system itself.
This vacuum, she said, has given rise to consumer activism from boycotts to social media backlash as a parallel accountability mechanism.
For Amit Bhasin, Chief Legal Officer at Marico, the distinction was clear, legal compliance is non negotiable, but insufficient. “Compliance is the minimum threshold. The real challenge is staying aligned with changing consumer expectations,” he said.
He pointed to how advertising narratives have evolved from traditional depictions of gender roles to more shared responsibilities reflecting a broader societal shift. “Earlier, it was fine to show one person doing the household work. Today, that may not land well. Consumers expect brands to reflect reality,” Bhasin observed.
He also highlighted internal debates where campaigns that may be legally permissible are still rejected for being culturally insensitive, noting that responsible advertising often requires asking uncomfortable questions before the public does.
If compliance is the baseline, reputation is the battlefield.
Bhasin noted that reputational risk has become a far greater concern than legal exposure, particularly in an era where campaigns can be dissected within hours online. “Earlier, a controversial ad might invite a newspaper editorial. Today, within hours, you’re at the centre of a storm,” he said.
Brands, he added, now evaluate campaigns through a dual lens legal viability and reputational vulnerability with the latter often proving more decisive.
From a healthcare perspective, Satish Sahoo of Cipla Health underscored the complexity of operating within fragmented yet stringent regulatory frameworks, spanning drugs, food, cosmetics and Ayush. “Anything under a drug licence is the most tightly regulated,” he said, adding that this necessitates proactive, not reactive, compliance.
He shared an example from the oral rehydration salts (ORS) category, where Cipla resisted the temptation to position products aggressively despite competitive pressure. “Our product is WHO compliant, and our communication reflects that. We chose not to blur the lines, even if others did,” he noted.
The long term payoff, he suggested, lies in credibility built over consistency, not quick wins.
Yet, as Harsha N of National Law School of India University pointed out, even perfect compliance does not guarantee trust. Drawing from historical and modern examples from exaggerated product claims in the 1800s to contemporary environmental and health advertising, he argued that legal frameworks often lag behind consumer expectations. “A brand can be fully compliant and still be perceived as misleading,” he said, citing instances where fine print disclosures fail to reach or convince the average consumer. He added that larger companies carry a disproportionate responsibility to set ethical benchmarks, even in areas where the law remains silent.
The conversation also turned to digital advertising, where the challenge extends beyond content to how ads are experienced. From algorithmic targeting to personalised messaging, brands now operate in an environment where regulation struggles to keep pace with technology.
Sahoo noted that social media has amplified awareness, with influencers and consumers increasingly scrutinising product claims and calling out inconsistencies. “Awareness has gone up dramatically. People are questioning what goes into products and what brands are saying,” he said.
The role of self regulatory bodies such as Advertising Standards Council of India also came under the spotlight.
Harsha acknowledged that while SROs play a crucial role, they are not immune to criticism, particularly around perceived conflicts of interest and enforcement gaps. “SROs have a higher threshold of responsibility not just to interpret the law, but to anticipate societal expectations,” he said.
He added that failures in self regulation often push the burden back onto government intervention, underscoring the need for stronger, more proactive oversight.
One of the more nuanced debates centred on whether building trust comes at a cost. While Sahoo acknowledged that quality and compliance can increase costs, he argued that companies must absorb them as part of their long term strategy.
Bhasin, however, framed the challenge differently not as cost, but as competitiveness in a market where not all players play by the same rules. “The real tension is when others cut corners and you choose not to,” he said.
The panel concluded with a call to embed trust into business metrics.
Sahoo suggested that organisations must go beyond revenue targets to include consumer equity and trust based KPIs, ensuring that ethical considerations are not sidelined in the pursuit of growth. “Trust sounds abstract, but it can translate into measurable consumer equity,” he said.
As the discussion wrapped up, one message stood out: the rules of advertising are being rewritten not just by regulators, but by consumers themselves. In an ecosystem where attention is fleeting and scepticism is high, brands that merely comply may survive, but those that build trust are the ones that endure.
