Crossword Genius

News about fashionable key material (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

whipcord

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'news' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'fashionable key material' is the wordplay.
'fashionable key' becomes 'whip' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'material' becomes 'cord' (cord is a kind of material).
'whip'+'cord'='WHIPCORD'

'about' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for whipcord that I've seen is " beating fabric?".)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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