The Echo family expands with a host of new assistant devices.                                                        The Echo Spot can also be used to control your smart home products via Alexa.Amazon has unveiled a Wholesale Poly Spandex fabric slew of new Alexa-powered smart devices at various price points. First up is the Amazon Echo second generation speaker which now comes in six different colours – Charcoal Fabric, Heather Gray Fabric, Oak Finish, Sandstone Fabric, Silver Finish, and Walnut Finish. It will be powered by AI assistant Alexa, who can be commanded to perform functions like playing music, make calls, set alarms and reminders, among others. The new Echo comes with Dolby-powered speakers and 360-degree omnidirectional audio output. It is also equipped with seven microphones, which will make it easier to command Alexa while playing music.The Echo Plus is a smart home hub powered by Alexa that can control smart products at home like lights, thermostats, locks, garage doors, and more. One variant of the Echo Plus is available with a Philips Hue bulb as well. Rest apart, the Echo Plus is also equipped with Dolby speakers and seven microphones.The alarm-clock like Echo Spot is the newest and smallest kid on the shelf, with a small 2.5-inch screen and a camera that can show video flash briefings, music lyrics, and weather forecasts. The Echo Spot can also be used to control your smart home products via Alexa.Then there’s the Echo Connect, which is a set-top-box shaped device that connects your landline to other Echo products. The new Fire TV supports 4K Ultra HD up to 60 frames per second and also comes with support for HDR as well as Dolby ATMOS audio.Prices for the second generation Echo start at $99 (approximately Rs 6,600), Echo Plus at $150 (approximately Rs 9,900), Echo Spot alarm clock at $130 (approximately Rs 8,600), a new Fire TV at $70 (approximately Rs 4,700) and the Echo Connect at $35 (approximately Rs 2,300).(source)                    end-of mazon echo second gen, amazon echo spot, echo plus, fire tv 4k, echo connect.

While it’s safe to play around with colours like baby pink, ice blue and the like; I’d recommend women to digress from the usual and give bold and striking colours like burgundy, oxblood, and electric green and black a try.Nothing too tight around the bust or the waist is the key. Model and actress Lisa Haydon too made heads turn in those striking evening numbers despite a heavy bump. Those high slit silk gowns and flared midi dresses were proof enough. I see a lot of huge abstract and floral prints doing the rounds in the fashion scene.“Crawl sleeved maxi dresses with asymmetrical hemlines, airy jumpsuits and midi dresses are trending. Look for live or lyocell tags in garments as well. Not too long ago, another yummy-mommy to be actress Soha Ali Khan’s official Instagram was filled with rad images of the Pataudi princess flaunting chic yet comfy looks. It’s better to go for woven than knits as a fabric choice. Infuse these trends with pastel coloured clothes to score some great points on the style front.  
The latest star to give us Lycra Fabric mommy-to-be goals is tennis sensation Serene Williams, who made jaws drop in a black cutout swim wear. And, she’s not the only one. Young women can take subtle hints from that as well, while picking clothes,” reveals Bengaluru-based designer Prerana Sarkar, who also adds how imperative it is to pay heel to silhouettes.Adding how fabrics like stretch velvet, spandex, Lycra and vinyl are best suggested, designer Natasha Tyagi concludes by stating, “The buzzword is mix. While these celeb pictures went viral instantly, they’re also a fashion-forward crop that’s headlining a raging trend– of # how maternity can be a phase that needn’t face a sartorial setback.”end-of pregnancy, maternity wear.Soha has been opting for breezy styles to cushion her bump.Radiant mamas-to-be rejoice! Celebs are now upping the ante with maternity fashion.” Hinting at how slits and cutouts are stellar options to choose from, stylist Saumya Shetty adds, “Cold shoulders, standout cutouts, bell-sleeves and lace-up tops are all very stylish yet as comfortable as your regular tees and trousers.THE ASIAN AGE.Lara Dutta Bhupati                                                    Maternity wear is on the cusp of a meteoric evolution —with celebrities going all out and slayin’ it by sporting some enviable styles even during the trimester of pregnancy. Not to forget actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who wasn’t lagging behind during her pregger days. Play around with lace, ruffles and fringes as they are still in vogue.  City experts give us insightful (style) notes for mommys-to-be’s to consider. they are new blends in the market that are trending and comfortable.”Beyonce picked styles to embrace her curves while pregnant with twins. Pregnant women should stick to breathable fabrics like 100 per cent cotton, linen blends or cotton lycra blends. Avoid 100 per cent polyester as it could be most unhelpful at the time of hot flashes. “I see a lot of women picking some of the most bizarre silhouettes because they’re blinded by the softness of the fabric.. Keep in simple in terms of silhouette and and pair it up with statement jewellery pieces. Stick to antifits or just the right fits.  Heavily pregnant women can sport these, and make a statement without compromising on their comfort.Kareena Kapoor KhanAs a rule, pregnant women should avoid hour glass silhouettes and snug fit clothes.

(Photo: DC)                                                    Volkswagen intends to sell electric cars for less than 20,000 euros (USD 22,836) and protect German jobs by converting three factories to make Tesla rivals, a source familiar with the plans said.                                                                VW and other carmakers are struggling to adapt quickly enough to stringent rules introduced.                                                        The November 16 strategy meeting will discuss Volkswagen’s transformation plan to shift from being Europe’s largest maker of combustion engine vehicles into a mass producer of electric cars. Aero, will be built in a plant currently making the VW Passat, a mid-sized sedan, the source said. report called for dramatic steps to slow global warming. Diess said to cut average fleet emissions of carbon dioxide in Europe by 30 per cent by 2030, VW needs to raise its share of fully electric vehicles to 30 per cent of new car sales.VW’s strategy shift comes as cities start to ban diesel engine vehicles, forcing carmakers to think of new ways to safeguard 600,000 German industrial jobs, of which 436,000 are at car companies and their suppliers. The largest such plant in Europe is VW’s in Kassel.Carmakers in Germany agreed on Thursday to spend up to 3,000 euros (USD 3,430) per vehicle to add more efficient exhaust filtering systems to cut diesel emissions but failed to prevent bans on diesel vehicles by Cologne and Bonn. The German carmaker will mainly focus on debating the merits of converting its VW factories in Emden, Zwickau and Hanover, which all build combustion-engined cars, to electric ones under the plans being discussed by the board of directors, the source said.Ford has strong sales and profits in the United States thanks to its exposure to the lucrative pickup truck segment, while Volkswagen dominates the market for passenger cars in Europe.The shift from combustion engines to electric cars would also cost 14,000 jobs at VW by 2020 as it takes less time to build an electric car than a conventional one and because jobs will shift overseas to battery manufacturers.
VW and Ford are in “exploratory talks” about an alliance to develop self-driving and electric fat bike suppliers electric vehicles and to complement each other’s global production and sales footprints, Reuters reported last month.In Europe there are about 126 plants making combustion engines, employing 112,000 people.The companies are considering cooperation deals in the areas of commercial, electric and autonomous vehicles, although a final agreement will unlikely be announced at the November 16 strategy meeting at Volkswagen, the second source said.N.Plans for VW’s electric car, known as “MEB entry” and with a production volume of 200,000 vehicles, are due to be discussed at a supervisory board meeting on Nov.VW and other carmakers are struggling to adapt quickly enough to stringent rules introduced after the carmaker was found to have cheated diesel emissions tests, with its chief executive Herbert Diess warning last month that Germany’s auto industry faces extinction.The November 16 strategy meeting will discuss Volkswagen’s transformation plan to shift from being Europe’s largest maker of combustion engine vehicles into a mass producer of electric cars, another source familiar with the deliberations said.(Source)                    end-of                Tags: volkswagen, electric car.EU lawmakers have agreed to seek a 35 per cent cut in car emissions by 2030 after a U.The details of a cooperation deal with Ford may take until the end of the year to be finalised, the second source said. 16, the source said.To free up production capacity for electric cars in Hannover, VW’s transporter vans could be produced at a Ford plant in Turkey, if German labour unions, who hold half the seats on VW’s board of directors, agree, the source added.The Wolfsburg-based carmaker, which declined to comment on the plans, is also expected to discuss far-reaching alliances with battery cell manufacturer SK Innovation and rival Ford, the source said.An electric van, the ID Buzz, is due to be built at VW’s plant in Hannover, where its T6 Van is made, the source said.D.Another vehicle.

The TV star-turned-politician got the Twitterati engaged in a game of posting pictures — one where they are wearing cotton clothes and asked them to tag their friends to continue the chain. It depends on how many people are affected by a particular industry,” says Rahul. Even at the Eiffel Tower, ‘Paris loves fashion’ is often displayed.”Designer Rahul Mishra says that such initiatives help to make people realise the importance of cotton, a fabric which gets used everywhere, from a person’s birth to his last rites. “The hashtag is helping to make cotton fashionable, which is a mass product. Only someone who really appreciates a pure cotton (clothing) will buy it. Cotton is a natural fabric that is used to as a gamcha by the poor farmer or a towel by powerful bureaucrats and so on. But in reality, it is more about the realisation and awareness about of the importance of cotton in our daily lives and how cool it actually is,” he says, adding that the campaign also helps make people realise that cotton can also be considered as a luxurious fabric. “Cotton is something that we use every day.”Rahul says that governments in many other countries start such initiatives but in India it has more prominence because of the (fashion) industry’s contribution to the economy. So, it is only right that the government promotes it like they encourage the IT industry as well.This is, however, not the first time Irani has done something like this. Explaining the impact of such initiatives, he says, “When the
China Knitted Fabric Suppliers IWearHandloom initiative clicked, there was a revival of handloom and it generated business for the weavers. When the government promotes indigenous weavers and farmers, it creates an impact towards the demand of the product and also boosts a sense of appreciation towards the fabric. People will now think of it as a fabric that they can wear in shaadis,” she says and adds, “Cotton is a suitable fabric in a country where there are almost 10 months of summer. Such initiative is a great news for people like us who deal in cotton wear. The campaign might look symbolic on the face. What is your #CottonIsCool look?!” As a result, within  a matter of few hours not only common people even celebs like Virender Sehwag, Vijender Singh, Amish Tripathi, Kirron Kher and Hema Malini began posting their pictures with the #CottonIsCool. Promoting the fabric will also help boost its contribution to agriculture (production) as well.THE ASIAN AGE. Similarly, in a country like France where fashion is much bigger than any other industry, the fashion weeks are able to generate billions of dollars within just one week there. People wear polyester cotton as it has a better finish.”end-of Tags: smriti irani, fdci, cotton clothes. We are not only encouraging handloom but also showcasing power loom and they both need the government’s support. But do all these initiatives mean anything on the ground? The industry people answer. | PRATYUSH PATRA &  GARIMA ARORA Published:  May 17, 2017, 12:25 am IST Updated:  May 17, 2017, 12:25 am IST This is, however, not the first time Irani has done something like this. Once the awareness spreads, the business of cotton will also grow. Looking at the cotton industry at large, cotton contributes a lot to our GDP. She began it all by tweeting “I celebrate Indian summers and cotton industry with my #CottonIsCool look.                                                    On Tuesday morning, Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani created a wave of sorts, not a remotely controversial one, of course. We are of one the largest cotton producing and cotton wearing countries in the world, and most Indians don’t know that.”Vineet Chhajer, director, Vineet Sarees echoes similar sentiments: “Cotton and Indian summers are interlinked. It is for the classes and the masses.                                                        Last year in August, barely after a week of joining as the Textile Minister, her #IWearHandloom took the social media by storm. Last year in August, barely after a week of joining as the Textile Minister, her #IWearHandloom took the social media by storm. The Mayor comes readily forward to promote it.
Harinder Singh, owner of 1469, an apparel shop in Connaught Place, says, “The business might not come immediately as there needs to be awareness first.Boxer Vijender SinghDesigner Anju Modi seconds Mishra and says that the campaign might help change the mindset of people that cotton can’t be worn in weddings or any grandeur occasions.  Actress Kirron KherNot just the fashion designers, even the shop owners feel that the impact of such initiatives doesn’t just remain limited to social media but trickle down to the day-to-day business too. This initiative will make cotton popular.Minister of Textiles Smriti IraniAmong the first few to tweet a picture with #CottonIsCool was Sunil Sethi, the president of the Fashion Design Council Of India (FDCI). We must take great pride in such facts. “In India, cotton contributes a lot, in terms of earning revenue and generating employment

Talking about green living and what it means to him, he says, “It’s just the way I choose to live! I’m inspired by nature. What you are witnessing right now is the result of this awareness. “Everything that I learnt, I probably learnt at home — sourcing, quality-check, specifying measurements and fit — and there was a lot to learn end-of.” About her personal style, she added, “I am quite feminine and love wearing feminine outfits.No longer are sustainability and social responsibility a token extra or cynical marketing ploywork with extraordinary precision, weaving complex checks and stripes for the modern consumer.  
“I need to do something that makes me feel great and attached to the product, and the customer who’s going to wear my clothes needs to experience the same attachment. These designers are interested in quality, never quantity — new retailing is retelling the story of Indian handloom. The trade has changed and handloom has shrugged off its ornamental, rustic look. I am coming here after ages and I love the city’s vibe and culture. We need to work with them by educating them about how to set their weaves in a way that a modern silhouette is achieved. It makes us all more peaceful and keeps every day.