loyale clothing is the definition of eco-chic! Last week, we posted a feature on it’s stylish Barstow Bikini – you know, the one Gisele donned in the latest issue of Vogue?

loyale clothing also creates eco-chic blouses, dresses and jumpers using low impact dyes, overstock fabrics and organic cotton. Celeb fans include Courtney Cox, Rachel McAdams, Jessica Alba, Alice Waters, Kristin Gore and Emily Deschanel.

Well, these sisters wanted the scoop on the green fashion firm! Check out our interview with Jenny Hwa, the loyale’s owner and designer. And don’t forget to follow her on Twitter: @jennyhwa. Then, enter to win a mini-dress that you’ll end up living in all summer.

Many girls dream about becoming a clothing designer! How did you get your start?

I had always been in love with fashion from a young age, it seemed like the type of career that would encompass all of my passions and interests. I knew no day would be the same and it would be a great challenge, two elements of life that inspire me and make me jump out of bed in the morning. I made a game plan for breaking into the fashion world: business school, internships, networking and fashion school.

From age 18 it was my plan to start my own business because I knew while being creative would inspire me, managing a business would motivate me. While I attended business school, I hunted down as many fashion related internships I could find and apply for. Being in the Bay Area of California my choices were limited, but I managed to find wonderful opportunities at a PR Firm, then Surface magazine and Chaiken. Then I had the opportunity to live in New York for two summers: one summer I juggled two internships with Kate Spade and W magazine while working retail on the weekends and the next summer I worked with Jill Stuart both on the design and retail end. Upon graduation of business school, I was accepted into Fashion Institute of Technology’s competitive one year AAS program, which consisted of class from 8am-6pm, massive amounts of homework and on top of this I took a design assistant internship at Catherine Malandrino. Needless to say there was a lot of blood, sweat and tears that year. Looking back over the years I feel the most valuable information and experience I ascertained were through internships…they taught me an enormous amount about the real world industry and how to manage day to day interactions with personnel on every level. I encourage everyone I know who is interested in becoming a designer to think outside the box and take as many internships as possible in every field from sales, to PR, to human resources because depending upon where you live, there just aren’t design assistant positions everywhere and you can still work toward your goal by taking educational detours. Though it is a challenge to work for free, think of it as “tuition of life” and what you will learn makes it all worth it.

As I traveled during university and for work related trips throughout the US and Europe, I noticed the presence of organic materials made up into frumpy clothing I had no interest in wearing; that was when the seed was planted that fashionable clothing could be created from these materials and customers wouldn’t have to sacrifice their style to support sustainable consumption. After working with Armani Exchange and Calypso for 3.5 years combined, I decided to branch out on my own in 2005 and launch loyale. The inspiration for the name derived from me wanting my fashion company to be loyal to style and loyal to the environment.

What is loyale clothing all about? What’s the mission?

loyale is a fashion-forward, sustainable clothing company that aims to make the simple act of getting dressed in the morning world changing. I founded loyale in response to the dearth of chic, sophisticated eco-apparel available to fashionable women. I always dreamed of making a positive impact in my lifetime, but I knew my vision would have to be fun, stylish and relevant to daily life. After working for several renowed fashion designers, I found my inspiration and motivation: I would bring a sense of meaning and activism to an artform each one of us relies upon each day: clothing. In 2005 I went on to found loyale, a company that offers eco-chic apparel for stylish consumers who are equally conscious about fashion as they are about the environment…merging style and sustainability. My philosophy is three fold: translate runway trends, utilize the best eco-fabrics and be cognizant of my role in society and on the environment. The intention of loyale is to create stylish clothing that is made non-sweatshop with sustainable fabrics and to create a shift in consciousness where commerce and compassion for the planet can coexist.

To read the rest of Jenny’s interview…and to find out what we’re giving away…click “Read More.” What are you waiting for?!