Our Story
It all starts with the name: Red X Thread. In storytelling, a ‘red thread’ is the theme that carries the reader through the story, connecting characters, places and events, experiencing all the highs and lows that define a great adventure—the elements that create a story worth telling and retelling.
Over 20 years, Matthew Labutte, founder of Red X Thread, has forged his own story, a career in art and design. He has expressed his craft as an artist and illustrator, created brand identities and graphics, designed custom cars and turned a rusted rarity into an exquisite custom station wagon.
Throughout this journey, his artistic talents have intertwined with his passion for all things automotive, leading to a new chapter: a heritage fashion clothing brand. This project brings it all together into something tangible: comfortable, durable well-made clothes inspired by great stories.
The artist’s obsession is clear: a colored stitch here, embroidered details there, woven labels, patches, rivets and a touch of leather, all chosen for maximum impact. Each garment in the Red X Thread line tells a story, each is painstakingly designed for those who appreciate handcrafted excellence.
What makes the Red X Thread story worth retelling? Its roots stretch back to the way things used to be—when pride, care and high quality were engineered into every product. These clothes represent a comeback, powered by Matthew and a small group of like-minded artisans dedicated to their craft.
The Red X Thread brand promise is to seek out improvements at every stage of production, from fiber to fabric to factory. This means fair wages for all employees, healthy working conditions and manufacturing with minimal environmental impact.
Our Commitment
Fashion inspired by speed, skill and grit doesn’t mean “fast fashion”—it means the opposite. We’re committed to making the highest quality products possible, clothing that’s well-constructed and looks better with age. The designs are timeless, the clothes are engineered to stand the test of time.
From a family-owned factory, our partners hand craft clothing with complete transparency all the way down the production line. They support the local economy, deliver fair wages and safe working conditions for all employees, and work with talented people who share the same values.
We work with suppliers to identify sustainable textile mills so that our fabrics have a minimal impact on the environment. As we move forward, our objective is to incorporate more recycled and up cycled cotton in our products—and to continue educating ourselves on making the best possible choices.
To help reduce our environmental impact more, future initiatives will include recycling scrap pieces into paper, and donating excess fabric to educational and community-based organizations. Our aim is to always set ourselves apart from the fast fashion movement—and to make waves while doing it.
We are grateful to have a platform to share our vision with you. It’s our responsibility, in turn, to lend our support to causes and campaigns that make a difference in people’s lives. We’re always looking for ways to help out, so if there’s a cause we should know about, please get in touch.
