Brands
Threading the Bloom Fabindia brings Chikankari into full spring swing
MUMBAI: Spring has never looked so soulful. Fabindia’s latest offering, The Song of Spring, gently unfurls a tapestry of tradition and technology, paying tribute to the age-old art of Chikankari embroidery with a modern twist and a dash of AI.
Rooted in India’s rich textile legacy, Chikankari has long been enchanted with its whisper-light stitches and poetic precision. In this collection, Fabindia reimagines the heritage craft using AI-generated floral visuals, creating a campaign that bridges the traditional with the contemporary. The result? A collection that feels as fresh as a spring breeze, but with roots deep in culture.
“The Song of Spring is more than a campaign; it is a tribute to the hands that sustain India’s textile traditions. By honouring its floral essence and displaying its intricate threadwork, we wanted to express the finery of Chikankari beyond the garment and celebrate its inspiration. Including AI crafted floral elements in the campaign visuals that accentuate the craft has brought a fresh perspective to the craft”, says a Fabindia spokesperson.
From dreamy dupattas to floating kurtas and artfully embroidered tunics, the collection showcases Chikankari at its most elegant. Crafted from airy cottons and fine silks, each piece features signature stitches like Bakhiya, which gives an illusion of shadows, Phanda, known for floral knots, and Jaali, which mimics Mughal latticework. It’s this layered delicacy over 32 types of stitches in some cases that gives each garment its own narrative.
Embracing soft pastels, earthy tones, and gentle florals, the colour palette of the collection enhances the embroidery’s subtle brilliance. Every garment comes adorned with a Craftmark Tag, a confirmation of authenticity and handcrafted integrity.
With The Song of Spring, Fabindia doesn’t just showcase clothing it tells a story in thread, blending centuries of tradition with today’s design language. It’s a sartorial serenade to spring, one stitch at a time.
Brands
Netflix acquires Ben Affleck’s AI film-tech firm InterPositive
Streaming giant picks up production startup to streamline digital filmmaking
LOS ANGELES: Netflix has officially acquired InterPositive, an AI film-technology startup founded by actor and director Ben Affleck. The move marks a significant investment by the streaming service into assistive AI tools designed to support the technical side of movie production. While many AI companies focus on generating new images or scripts, InterPositive focuses on the logistical challenges of filmmaking. The firm’s technology is designed to handle technical tasks that often delay post-production, such as correcting lighting inconsistencies and ensuring visual continuity across different takes.
The acquisition is not about replacing human actors or writers. Instead, Netflix intends to use the technology as a digital assistant for directors. The software understands cinematic logic, meaning it can automatically adjust background elements or environmental effects to ensure a film looks polished and consistent without months of manual editing.
In a Netflix post on Thursday, Affleck emphasised that the project was born out of a desire to support the craft rather than automate it. “I knew I had a responsibility to my peers and our industry, to protect the power of human creativity and the people behind it. In creating InterPositive, I sought to do just that,” Affleck wrote. “From the invention of the moving image to the transition to digital, from motion capture to virtual production, technology has evolved alongside the artists who use it. Our shared commitment to continuing this legacy makes joining together a natural next step.”
Netflix chief product and technology officer Elizabeth Stone said, “Our approach to AI has always been focused on meaningfully serving the needs of the creative community. InterPositive’s technology is purpose-built for filmmakers and showrunners to naturally support their visions. We’re excited to welcome the team to Netflix and continue building a future where technology enhances storytelling, while people remain at the core.”
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria added, “New tools should expand creative freedom, not constrain it. Ben and his team are part of a long tradition of artists leading innovation in storytelling. Their work gives filmmakers more choices, control, and protection for their vision.”
The deal coincides with a broader partnership between Netflix and Artists Equity, the production company led by Affleck and Matt Damon. Following the success of their recent projects on the platform, this acquisition cements Affleck’s role as both a creative and technical advisor to the streamer. Affleck noted that the partnership was a logical fit due to “Netflix’s decades of experience applying and scaling technology responsibly.” He will serve as a senioradvisor for the integration of the technology, ensuring the tools remain focused on helping filmmakers.
For the film industry, this acquisition signals a shift in strategy. Rather than just buying finished movies, Netflix is now owning the specialized technology used to build them. By bringing these tools in-house, the company aims to reduce the rising costs and lengthy timelines associated with high-budget original films while giving their productions a technical edge in speed and visual quality.
