I hear from a source close to the French luxury leather goods manufacturer Hermès that its buyers can’t get their hands on enough quality hides.

If you believe them, cattle are increasingly coming to slaughter with imperfect skin, which is just not good enough for them.

They say the “critical” problem is rife across European markets where they source their leather.

Money is not the issue here as most Hermès leather handbags fetch upwards of €5,000.

Yet when it comes to covering a sofa, it doesn’t matter how much they offer – they just can’t find a large enough scar-free hide.