African designs are now gaining popularity in the US with their vivid graphic and tribal prints. Maria Galang has the details from Washington.

Kitenge, Ankara, Dutch wax print. African fashion is vibrant and colorful and it's growing in popularity in the U.S.

"Maybe the last three years, it's been African things that have been in demand."

Titi Wreh has been designing clothes for more than 20 years, but it's only recently she decided to build her brand around African prints.

TITI WREH DESIGNER, CHEZ KEVITO "Two years ago, a friend of mine said, since you sell online, go ahead and make like a little pencil skirt, something that's not too African looking, with the African print, and put it up for sale, and see what happens. I think people will like that, and so I did that and sold it within a week."

The popularity of her prints encouraged Titi to create more. Now, her work is in demand, especially at the annual MMEG International Arts and Crafts Fair at the World Bank.

MARIA GALANG WASHINGTON DC "Contemporary African designs are fast becoming a hot ticket item at pop up events like this one -- a chance for upcoming designers to build their brands by getting some exposure."

With a little help from the rich and famous, of course.

TITI WREH DESIGNER, CHEZ KEVITO "In the 90s, it got a little popular with Queen Latifah, you know wearing those hats, and other celebrities and you know when celebrities do something then regular people will follow. So if Beyonce is wearing like the Dashiki shirt, everybody wanted it, Chris Brown wore it, everybody wanted it."

Blogger Yasmine Saibou, who often features the prints on her blog, also gives tips on where to buy the clothes.

YASMINE SAIBOU BLOGGER "With things like the movie Black Panther, it definitely brought a lot of awareness to African print, and even with technology now that you have Instagram, and Facebook, you can actually see pictures of how people are wearing them, so you can emulate or purchase those same styles."

Finding a way to grow mass appeal isn't easy, and Titi has had to adapt the styles to fit a more modern everyday look.

TITI WREH DESIGNER, CHEZ KEVITO "I noticed in the winter time, it's hard to find warm African clothes. So I got the idea to cover sweatshirts with African print, sometimes I put a zipper where you can wear as a jacket, or a hoodie. So a lot of people do like the sweatshirts. Another thing that's new is the puffer scarves. It has flannel on the inside, and African print on the outside, and it has a padding on the inside, and it's really warm on your neck."

Although the prints are mainly worn by African Americans, and Africans in the U.S., other cultures are also finding ways to incorporate them into their wardrobe.

DASAN BOBO ANKARA PRINT FAN "I get to pick the fabric, then I pick the design, and sort of make something that's sort of couture, unique."

DANIELLA VAN PADILLO-LEGELLO ANKARA PRINT DESIGNER "I'm seeing it a lot in this they call, boho or hipster culture, where they're starting to integrate aspects of their fabric, like pockets on a t-shirt."

African prints may not be mainstream yet - but they're getting global exposure. And it's proving profitable for enterprising designers across the U.S. MG, CGTN, WASHINGTON.