Fashions & Lifestyle

eBay ZOOMS IN ON FASHION & LIFESTYLE 

eBay India, which started operations nine years ago, also said that with growing awareness among people from tier II and III cities about online shopping, the trend to buy clothes and accessories online will further gain momentum. Online marketplace giant eBay is sharpening focus on the fashion and lifestyle segment in India saying that buyers are looking beyond electronics and gadgets to shop on e-commerce sites. 

eBay India, which started operations nine years ago, also said that with growing awareness among people from tier II and III cities about online shopping, the trend to buy clothes and accessories online will further gain momentum. "We have a razor sharp focus on fashion and lifestyle on our platform. One reason is that while a shopper will usually buy an electronic item or gadget once is a long time, say a year or so, those who purchase clothing and accessories would be doing this more frequently, like a month," 

eBay India Managing Director Latif Nathani told PTI. Analysts attribute growth in e-commerce to increasingly young crowd going online to shop for products, not just travel tickets and mobiles, but also fashion accessories, clothing and household items. Besides, the growth is also being fuelled by a surge in consumption of fashion and lifestyle products, primarily driven by increasing women shoppers in the country, he added. 

 Already, the US-based firm is seeing 50 per cent of its business coming from the tier II and III cities in India with growing Internet use, smartphone penetration and rising income levels helping small cities to rise on the e-commerce roadmap. "To cater to the growing fashion-centric consumers across 4,306 cities, towns and villages in India, we have sharpened our focus on fashion by offering over 200,000 products across 1,000 fashion brands," Nathani said. According to the eBay India Census 2012, 41 per cent of its transactions happen in the Lifestyle category, while 48 per cent happen in the Electronics category. 

Quoting analyst figures, he said India is witnessing growth in e-commerce and this is expected to continue. According to digital research firm ComScore, e-commerce industry attracts 30 million unique visitors to online shopping websites every month in India, Nathani said. Another research firm Forrester expects the market to touch USD 3.2 billion in 2014 with a growth rate of 60 per cent year-on-year, he added. Besides, offering popular brands such as United Colors of Benetton, Biba, Remanika, AND, Stop, PUMA and Chemistry, eBay India also gives space to regional brands to reach out to its 2.1 million strong active consumer base. 

"We have over 500 regional brands like Do Bhai, Ishta, Shree, Pehran, Pothy's, PN Gadgil, Roopkashish to name a few. We are offering an unmatched selection of fashion and lifestyle products across national brands and regional specialities," Nathani said.

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BEST DIET FOR HEALTHY HAIR

Best diet for hair growth: Experts tips on what you should eat for your hair to be its healthiest. The best hair diet includes a few of your diet staples (eggs), and maybe a few surprises (cloves).

According to science, the most important thing for hair health, above all, is a balanced diet. Dr Amitabh Kumar, skin specialist, Max Hospital, Delhi, pins lustrous hair on a steady diet of “protein sources, like lean meats, pulses, and yogurt.”

High Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value foods (that means foods that are very high in antioxidants) also aid the cause, Dr Kumar says. This includes expected things, such as dark chocolate, and unexpected things, such as cloves, which you can dump on anything.

Everything is fun and games until the doctor tells you sugar must be avoided at all costs. “High sugar ups inflammation throughout the body. We know that inflammation plays a huge role in hair loss,” Dr Anupam Dey, a Kolkata-based dietician says. Sugar also indirectly affects the metabolism of hormones, which, we also now know, is a bad thing for hair.

Dr Dey is enthusiastic about including eggs in your diet for a healthy head of hair. It contain biotin which can improve hair growth and strengthen nails. “When it comes to shiny hair, eggs are your friend. Eggs contain sulfur, which helps produce collagen and keratin, two important proteins for creating and maintaining healthy, shiny hair,” Dr Dey says.

Alternatively, a supplement with the right balance of vitamins can help you achieve a nourished scalp, which can contribute to hair (plus nail) growth. One study showed that taking a vitamin E supplement daily improved hair growth by 42%. “Look for a formula made for hair, skin, and nails with ingredients like biotin, vitamins C, and E, iron, and omega-3,” Dr Kumar says. Armed with the list of foods below, you could radically overhaul your diet in search of excellent hair.

Maybe it wouldn’t help. But it never hurts to try:

For a healthier scalp: Fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds are packed with omega-3 fats, which can prevent dry scalp and dandruff.

For strength: Yogurt and peanut butter are high in protein, a main building block of great hair and a source of elasticity.

For silkiness: Lean meats and tofu have loads of iron and zinc — minerals that are crucial for keeping hair smooth.

For unbreakability: Broccoli, red peppers and oranges are rich in vitamin C, which can protect hair from breakage.