The Edge launches signature guitar strap to raise money for refugee women
The U2 guitarist’s Love Welcomes strap is hand-stitched and features a morse code design
U2 guitarist the Edge has launched a signature guitar strap, whose proceeds will go towards employment and support for refugee women.
Produced in conjunction with charity Love Welcomes, the Edge’s strap includes an orange strip of upcycled life vest worn by refugees during their journey across the Mediterranean sea, and is hand-sewn by refugee women supported by the charity.
Each individually numbered strap is unique and includes the message ‘Love Welcomes’, as well as ‘the Edge’ written in morse code. You may have already spotted it in the video for Bono, the Edge and Martin Garrix’s Euro 2020 anthem, We Are the People.
“What might seem like a simple thing, the purchase of a guitar strap or any of the beautiful, handmade products available through this initiative, is much more than that,” says the Edge.
“It is an investment in the future. The future of independent, confident, skilled women who are rebuilding their lives and the lives of their families. With this guitar strap I hope to help Love Welcomes create employment for refugees but also I want to give musicians a chance to show solidarity with the victims of forced migration.”
The Edge x Love Welcomes straps are available to preorder now for £75 (approx $105) from Love Welcomes. The first 500 straps sold include a personally signed postcard from the Edge.
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Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
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