( CNN ) -- From color-popping dresses to bold prints and shapes , Afro-centric designs have been storming catwalks in recent years , catching the eye of fashionistas across the world . But for many international consumers , especially those with no access to shops dedicated to African brands , it can often be hard to get their hands on designer garments from the continent . As a result , more and more African designers are taking their lines to the web in a bid to reach out to a larger market . And while many are setting up their own websites , others rely on internet boutiques which have more experience navigating the online market . One such store is My Asho -- launched in June 2009 , this UK-based web boutique carries the work of established and up-and-coming African designers , giving them a chance to showcase their creations to a wider audience . Founder Dolapo Shobanjo says she started My Asho -- taken from the Yoruba word `` aso '' which means cloth -- when she realized that African designers were not getting the promotion they deserved . `` I contacted the top designers , I spoke to them and asked them about their struggle and how difficult it is for them , '' says Shobanjo . `` That 's really how it got started , so to create that credible infrastructure is to show the global demand for the products and that will kick start the productions . '' Today , My Asho stocks a variety of womenswear , children 's clothes and accessories from more than 30 African designers . Shobanjo says she is very careful when it comes to selecting new designers , making sure they have high professional standards . `` We 're very happy to add new people in the site but we have to ensure that the designers we add are serious , '' she says . `` There are a lot of people out there who claim to be African designers but it 's more like 'oh , I have a tailor who can sew very well and who can copy items , ' so we have to distinguish between copy-cats and people doing this as a hobby . '' One of the designers featured on the site is Erzumah Ackerson who runs clothing label Bestow Elan . She says My Asho is an ideal platform for her work , helping her to make her creations more visible as well as boost demand . `` I think there 's still an element of investment that still needs to be done so we are recognized on an international as well as mainstream platform but I think My Asho is a perfect platform because since I 've been on there , I 've had a lot of international buyers and got into mainstream magazines . '' And as this digital expansion is helping create more demand , many African designers are now having to keep up in their supply . Titi Ademola , a Ghana-based designer who is the founder of the KIKI Clothing brand , says the biggest challenge for many fashion designers is manufacturing . `` You get a lot of excitement from so many places but once you get an order , how do you manufacture in large quantities ? '' says Ademola . `` So , that 's the issue that I 'm facing , trying to focus on quality control and trying to ensure that you consistently provide quality and appealing garments to other companies and other markets , '' she adds . With clients in more than 50 countries , Shobanjo 's goal is to create a sustainable business model for My Asho . At the same time , she also wants her company to help her continent by supporting local African communities where the clothes are manufactured . As a result , Shobanjo 's prioritized working with ethical brands that show a commitment to fair labor practices and create opportunities for their communities . `` I 'm supporting Africa , helping it grow and creating jobs but it 's not to say that a certain percentage of x is going to here because I do n't think that is a sustainable business model , '' says Shobanjo . `` I think it is better to create from the start ethical principles and work with designers who pay their tailors well , who are investing in helping their communities grow and then once you grow as a business then you know that they will also grow as well . '' Teo Kermeliotis contributed to this article .
My Asho is an online store that carries the work of established and aspiring African designers . It stocks clothes and accessories from over 30 African designers . Founder Dolapo Shobanjo aims to support local communities where the clothes are produced .