About Us

Kamera Obscura is the label of Martine Abate, a London-based couture dress designer with a reputation for bold and original design.

Abate sees the creative process as a collaboration and encourages people to think beyond what they might have seen elsewhere. Clients get to leaf through fabric swatches, drawers of beads and overflowing boxes of trimmings with the designer, ensuring that they get exactly what they want.

Clients visit the studio to look at samples of the collection and discuss the details they would like included in their own bespoke piece. Once fabrics and trimmings have been chosen, the making and fitting process gets underway. Depending on the design, it usually takes three or four months to complete the outfit.