U2's The Edge launches Love Welcomes guitar strap in support of refugee women

U2's The Edge has teamed up with Love Welcomes to launch a new guitar strap, supporting refugee women and their families.

"In difficult times, we all cling to the hope of a better future," the Irish guitarist stated on social media. "Love Welcomes works with women and families who have been through the very worst of times, unimaginable trauma and life-changing events.

"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. Now to all you musicians out there, go buy my guitar strap!"

The launch of the new guitar strap - available to pre-order now - coincides with World Refugee Day this Sunday, June 20.

Each strap is an individually-numbered collector's item, handwoven by refugee women - and includes an orange strip of upcycled life-vest worn in perilous journeys across the Mediterranean.

The straps include the message ‘Love Welcomes’, as well as Morse code stitching woven into the strap which says ‘The Edge’. Morse code is included in Love Welcomes products as a way for women to share messages through the products they create. Each product also includes a unique NFC tag, enabling the customer to access a private social media platform which introduces them to women who are making the products, as well as and other musicians who have purchased the strap, including The Edge.

Launched in 2017, Love Welcomes is a creative social enterprise that helps refugee women begin to stitch their lives back together, by upcycling materials in handmade products which are sold all over the world.

For more information on their collaboration with The Edge, visit their website here.