Shell Cordovan skin - how many for a pair of shoes?

[Guest]

I'm about to buy shell cordovan for two pairs of shoes. The provider just send me this message:

"We have asked a bespoke shoe manufacturer in London - "Cleverley's" and they
have suggested you will need approximately 5 sq.ft. per pair of shoes and
our shells are only between 2 and 2.5 sq.ft.per skin, the largest being size
1, therefore you will need at least two skins."

Will two skins per pair do? (I use Yeti size: 47/12,5). If I have to buy three, how can I use the spare material. I've been thinking of a belt or a wallet? Anybody has experience with buyning skin for the shoemaker - are there any other things that I have to consider?

/Gruto

[Guest]

I'm about to buy shell cordovan for two pairs of shoes. The provider just send me this message:

"We have asked a bespoke shoe manufacturer in London - "Cleverley's" and they
have suggested you will need approximately 5 sq.ft. per pair of shoes and
our shells are only between 2 and 2.5 sq.ft.per skin, the largest being size
1, therefore you will need at least two skins."

Will two skins per pair do? (I use Yeti size: 47/12,5). If I have to buy three, how can I use the spare material. I've been thinking of a belt or a wallet? Anybody has experience with buyning skin for the shoemaker - are there any other things that I have to consider?

/Gruto

I should add that the reason for this operation is that my shoemaker doesn't carry shell cordovan and doesn't speak English, so I've taken the task to find some

[Guest]

Send an email to Ron Rider of Rider Boots. I'd bet he'd be happy to help you.

riderboot@comcast.net

-CG

[Guest]

May I ask who is your cordovan provider? Are there any European tanneries making it? I've been thinking the same. I wonder if cordovan can be stained by oneself to tweak the hue?
I'm trying to get samples of certified organic leather from Slovenia, too, and find a shoemaker at some point. I understand that cordovan is mostly from horses killed for other reasons than skin or meat (although I've heard rumours that that is done, too).

SV

[Guest]

Send an email to Ron Rider of Rider Boots. I'd bet he'd be happy to help you.

riderboot@comcast.net

Thanks!

May I ask who is your cordovan provider? Are there any European tanneries making it? I've been thinking the same. I wonder if cordovan can be stained by oneself to tweak the hue?
I'm trying to get samples of certified organic leather from Slovenia, too, and find a shoemaker at some point. I understand that cordovan is mostly from horses killed for other reasons than skin or meat (although I've heard rumours that that is done, too).

The tannery is Horween. They have an agent in Northampton.

/G

[Guest]

Horween is pretty much the only supplier of significant quantity iirc. And they've said price is only going to rocket given diminishing stocks... but then I never quite got the appeal of cordo anyway.

-CG