Via Meccanica creates unique custom upholstered seats for all types of motorcycles. From meticulous museum restorations to vintage recreations to complete custom builds, we’ve created over 500 saddles for some of the world’s most celebrated bikes. We’re proud to have built one of the largest and most acclaimed custom upholstery shops in the United States and we work diligently every day to deliver world-class service and products to all our clients and corporate partners. There is never a job too big or small for our shop!
Corinna Mantlo is the founder and lead designer at Via Meccanica, creating unique motorcycle seat restorations for some the most well know custom motorcycles in the world. Corinna has appeared on BBC, CNN, Talking Motorcycles with Barry Boone, and has been featured in the New York Times, New York Post, Time Out New York, Nativen, Rolling Stone Italia, Cafe Racer Magazine, and countless other publications. She also curates, produces, and advises on the production of media, art, and film events around the world and has been hailed as one of the “leading female experts of the custom and vintage motorcycle community.”
Born and raised riding on the streets of New York City, Corinna learned her trade as an artist, craftswoman and filmmaker, and in 2008 she founded the weekly film series Cine Meccanica, screening ‘the good, bad, and bizarre’ of motorcycle and hot rod movies. After 9 years of film and motorcycle studies, travel, research, and public appearances, Corinna has become the authority on contemporary and vintage two-wheeled and hot rod cinema. She also appears as on-air talent, produces and writes for several media outlets, speaks and hosts at various conferences, festivals and events worldwide, and has contributed to several books, including “The Chopper; The Real Story” (Gestalten 2014) by the legendary Paul d’Orleans.
In 2013, Corinna founded the Motorcycle Film Festival, the first of its kind to include both short and feature-length motorcycle-related films from around the world. It has since become internationally recognized as the go to festival for some of the world’s best motorcycle film talent.
Events and Appearances
Corinna hosted and co-produced the web series “Moto Life” for Jalopnik and Choppertown’s “Biker Movie Sunday”. She has appeared as a featured speaker at events around the world including Wheels & Waves in Biarritz, Pure and Crafted and Petrolettes in Berlin, the AIM Expo, and the International Motorcycle Show as an authority on two-wheeled cinema, culture, and the growing women’s movement in the motorcycle industry.
Film and Books
Working in film since 1997, Corinna started out as a costume designer, specializing in historical design, and as a producer and production coordinator for dozens of independent films. Corinna’s acclaimed debut feature documentary as director and producer “Up at Lou’s Fish: The Fulton Fish Market Chronicles”, followed the end of an era and the move of Fulton Fish Market to the Bronx after 180 years at the South Street Seaport. She has been featured in the book “My Cool Motorcycle: An inspirational guide to motorcycles and biking culture”, by Chris Haddon (2014), and is the subject of the short film “My Bike.”
Looking for seat inspiration, leather stitching patterns, color palettes concepts, or custom upholstery designs? Then check out @Miss1932 and @Via.Meccanica on Instagram for a daily look inside our shop, process and life.
Our partners and sponsors help make Via Meccanica and each of our builds a reality. They have been enormously generous and kind with their time, products, and business. Help us say "Thanks!" by checking out their products and support the folks who support us.
#viameccanica #custom #freehand
