Igor Gaelzer

Background

About Igor Gaelzer

I founded Nordweg at 19 to transform my family’s leather factory in Brazil into a global brand.My parents had mastered the craft for 35 years, but they were competing on price. I saw an opportunity to build premium products for customers who value quality and craftsmanship over fast fashion. It worked. We went from zero to filling 100% of the factory’s capacity in six years, averaging 91% year-over-year growth. From our solar-powered facility in Picada Café and our headquarters in Nova Petrópolis, we have made leather goods for Samsung, Intel, XP Investments, and thousands of customers worldwide.What I actually do: I lead both brand and manufacturing. I own the P&L, design the organization, and manage managers across Product, Operations, Marketing, and Finance. My focus is capital allocation, hiring strategy, culture, international expansion, and protecting the craftsmanship standards that define our brand. I took two factory leaders to Japan for a two-week immersion inside Toyota, learned lean directly from a veteran sensei, and brought back changes that improved quality and reliability while reducing waste.What’s next: I am expanding Nordweg in the United States from Austin. I am setting up the footprint, hiring the initial leadership bench, and building channels in DTC, selective wholesale, and marketplaces with disciplined unit economics and clear governance.If you work in premium consumer goods, Brazil or U.S. retail and wholesale, or you are building brands that prioritize craftsmanship, I would value the conversation.