Coral Johnston | Chief Designer
Coral Johnston is the most unlikely couturier. She started her professional life undertaking a Science degree, majoring in psychology. To fund her way through the course she made one-off clothes for anyone who requested it. She decided after a year and a half that Science and Psychology just wasn’t for her, she was too emotionally involved with the patients and didn’t enjoy dissecting small mammals, so decided that she would continue making clothes until she worked out her destiny.
It was one of these people who perhaps decided her fate. A recipient of her one-off designs asked Coral if she would consider designing and making her wedding dress. Although Coral had no training or qualifications her sewing ability came from her industrious grandmother who made free wedding dresses for friends and neighbours in post war 1940’s when material and resources was sparse and expensive. This ability to sew was passed onto her mother who in turn taught Coral. Although none of the three generations had any experience, formal training or qualifications in fashion design, seamstressing or pattern cutting, this didn’t deter her and she threw herself into the production of her very first wedding dress.
Fast forward 20 years and you will see this would be scientist/psychologist is now the proud Director of family owned Corston Couture in Edgecliff and Newcastle. She and her team have made well over 1300 couture dresses from flamboyant lace and materials to the traditional. ‘I am constantly learning, this business is all about learning. If you aren’t willing to make changes and look at new directions or listen to different ideas your designs and your business will never grow.’
From a small, studio loft in Newcastle, Coral quickly outgrew the premises and decided to move to shop premises with an in built design and production studio. As soon as she moved to street premises, the business took off. ‘I had 3 staff members within 6 months and girls traveling to Newcastle from as far south as Jervis Bay and Canberra as they had heard about my designs.’ This was the catalyst for opening a Sydney boutique, ‘I began to see that a quarter of my clients were traveling up from Sydney and it made sense to service the bridal industry there.’ In June 2004 she opened the doors to her Edgecliff boutique and has never looked back. ‘It is great to be part of this thriving industry within Sydney and be involved in something that is constantly evolving. I love the happiness that is focused around what I do, everyone we see is so excited about what they are about to embark on, it is difficult not to become part of that excitement.’
To celebrate 20 years in the industry Corston Couture are offering their brides the chance to spoil themselves with a bridal pamper package from Thaspa in Sydney CBD worth $120 when they book and pay for their wedding gown before December 31 2009.
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