When we think about STEM innovation, it’s easy to envision the next big technological breakthrough, . But sometimes, it starts with something as simple and powerful as discomfort.
For Aalliyeh Clinton, that moment came when she found herself in the lab wearing non-inclusive, unidentifying, and ineffective gear. It was a clear sign that science spaces weren’t built with everyone in mind.
Now, as the founder of Monneah’s Engineered Materials, she’s positively distributing a system that could use some change. Her Baltimore-based startup designs eco-conscious, sustainable PPE, starting with lab coats. In this conversation, Aalliyeh opens up about how she fused sustainable fashion with materials science, how Baltimore’s ecosystem fueled her growth, and what it means to carve out space for women of color in STEM on their own terms.
Q: Let’s start from the beginning, who are you and what is Monneah’s Engineered Materials all about?
I’m Aalliyeh Clinton, a chemist, materials engineer, comedian, boxer, one of God’s chosen ones. I own Monneah’s Engineered Materials, an advanced textile company designing eco-friendly, chemical-resistant lab coats for our chemists, and engineers dealing with harmful substances every day working on solutions to solve real-world problems. Through our three E’s efficient protection, elevated comfort, and exclusive fashion.
I also own Cool Nerds On The Rise, an educational program that teaches youth (5 -18 years old) about the world of textiles and polymer science through hands-on experiments. Through my program, we have engaged over 400 middle and high school students in Baltimore City through collaborations and partnerships.
Q: What experiences motivated you to start your own company? Was this always the plan?
Not at all! My path was very nonlinear. I originally wanted to build a sustainable fashion brand, something that was tear-resistant, practical, but stylish. I cared about sustainability and science, but I was thinking through the lens of fashion. It wasn’t until I had an internship experience where I faced systemic oppression that I realized I wanted to build something bigger, a culture where people in STEM could show up as their full selves and feel safe, seen, and encouraged.
That’s when the pieces clicked. I had this rare combination: I was already a chemist, I love fashion, and I had this drive to fix a gap I’d lived through. So I focused on lab coats which I knew could directly improve safety in different lab environments. .
Q: Where did your entrepreneurial mindset come from? Was it something you saw growing up or discovered along the way?
My father is a lifelong entrepreneur. Growing up, I watched him sell cable, knock on doors, you name it. My mother was always a mover and shaker from throwing parties, to selling candy middle and highschool. Now she’s a local MD business owner in the criminal justice advocate space. Entrepreneurial spirit runs through my veins, that hustle was always part of my world. But I didn’t know how it would translate to science until I started asking for help. One of my professors introduced me to an entrepreneurship program, and that led me to my first mentor, who’s still with me today.
I knew I didn’t want to work in corporate America forever. So I leaned into my confidence, my passions and my grit. That’s when everything started to unfold.
Q: How has being based in Baltimore helped shape your journey?
Baltimore has been everything. The community here is real, supportive, authentic, and willing to invest in your growth. Spaces like City Garage and organizations like Early Charm Ventures, Upsurge, BioBuzz, Enoch Pratt Library, Morgan State University, BUGSS Lab,and Building Blocks supported me with connecting the dots between science, entrepreneurship, and community. Baltimore lets you be a whole human. I can get mentorship, a good laugh, and a warm hug all in the same place. That’s rare.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in developing your lab coats and bringing them to market?
Honestly? It’s not the tech. I had access to lab space and materials scientists through Early Charm, and I’m a chemist, I know how to run experiments. But the real challenge is finding the right people to build your passion with. You need people who see your mission, vision and purpose even if through different lenses they still see it.
Q: Was there a moment that shifted the direction of your company entirely?
Absolutely. I had a conversation with Kevin, a fellow founder who was also named as one of Baltimore’s 2025 RealLIST Startups. He helped me understand the difference between buyers and end users, that I was marketing to scientists when I should’ve been selling to lab suppliers like Thomas Scientific for my wholesale partnerships. That one shift changed my entire business plan.
Q: What’s been the hardest part of your journey, and how are you pushing through it?
The hardest part has been the isms, racism, sexism, ageism. Being a 25-year-old Black woman in STEM, people question whether I belong before they even see what I’ve built. I continue to prosper with my faith in my God, my family, my community, my therapist, and my self-belief. I know my worth. I know what I’ve built. And I know that every room I walk into I belong in.
Aalliyeh Clinton isn’t just making lab coats. She’s reimagining what safety, inclusion, and innovation look like in STEM. Through Monneah’s Engineered Materials, she’s building more than a product, she’s building a movement where chemistry meets couture, and where protection is rooted in both science and lived experience.
As the Ecosystem Development Fellow for the BioHealth Capital Region, what stood out to me most was how seamlessly Aalliyeh integrates her technical training, creative vision, and community-centered values. Her work is proof that innovation doesn’t have to begin in a lab or boardroom, it can begin in the gaps we feel, the questions we ask, and the systems we dare to redesign.
Baltimore has served as a strong foundation for growth. And Aalliyeh is one of the brightest examples of what’s possible when a region invests in its people, not just its pipelines.
She’s not just protecting scientists, she’s reshaping the culture they work in. And that’s the kind of leadership our ecosystem needs more of.
