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Interesting. For years, various members have written on the forum that EG, Lobb and maybe others get one pair per hide. A quick google search shows places saying EG gets 2-3 pairs per hide, such as here. I wonder how many pairs other companies might get. @ntempleman mentions that bespoke makers waste about 70% of a hide.
I am sure that more than one pair of shoes can be gotten from a calfskin...esp. since what is labeled a "calf" these days is, generally, speaking older, coarser, and larger than calfskins of bygone days. I think it's Thornton who says that in the 50's (?) premium calf would have been less than six square feet. And getting more than one pair out of such a skin forces the maker to use offal rather than prime.
Even today with calfskins being so much larger (12-20 sq. ft.) less than 30% of that is number one much less prime grade. Yes, a second pair can be obtained from such skins but they will not be prime...may even be somewhat questionable quality in areas such as the counter or parts of the quarters.
That said, most bespoke makers live and die on their reputations for quality and the superlative...to deliver a pair of shoes that were commissioned as "best of the best" but in fact are not even #1 is dishonest and a recipe for disaster.
And why should a bespoke maker do that? If the whole skin is not paid for (including a margin for risk, replacement and inflation) then the maker's business model is flawed.
And yes, sometimes the waste can be used for other purposes--sockliners, etc, even belts. But using upper leather for linings is not best practices with leathers that are 'finished'... as most upper leathers are. If nothing else, the tendency to be hot and/or to rot out sooner than anticipated is very real.