In her early twenties, while she was working as a celebrity and bridal makeup artist, she got the idea to start her next venture – designing bespoke wedding shoes. Never doing anything by half, Carmen trained as a shoemaker and split her time between Canada, Spain and Italy. Following her mother’s death, she moved to London to set up her business and finish her degree at London University of Arts. With investors in place, she was in the middle of designing her first collection when she was hit by a lorry while cycling in central London. Her helmet saved her life, but the right side of her body was crushed and left her unable to design or make shoes. The investors pulled out and her shoe venture folded - so she started drinking gin (her mother’s favourite tipple).

Typically, Carmen didn’t just drink gin - she wanted to learn how to make it. Starting on a 2 litre still, she
began experimenting with different botanicals and, 58 recipes later, had a London Dry Gin that she was excited to share with the world. The business grew, the stills got bigger, and Carmen opened 58 and CO in an archway in Haggerston in 2019. As well as being the distillery and housing every part of the production, the space is also a stunning venue and host to gin schools, tasting experiences and private events. When the pandemic hit in 2020, it was one of the first places in the UK to switch production to making sanitiser and 58 and CO became an official supplier for the Met Police and NHS, as well as women’s shelters and home care.