Ali Hewson and Bono at Harlem’s Red Rooster after Edun show. Photo by Steve Eichner via WWDBono and Ali Hewson celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary in August.  In today’s WWD snap of the duo celebrating a well-received Edun spring 2012 women’s show and the launch of the men’s ‘Pioneers Project’ marketing campaign, the synergy of their long-lasting relationship is revealed.

In a recent Independent Ireland feature Ali Hewson: It’s a wonderful life being Mrs Bono, the word is that Hewson may be the quiet, laid-back, unassuming half of one of the biggest marriages in show business, but he knows his place.

He said: “I feel our relationship has changed a lot. For a while I thought I was in charge. I was the hunter-protector. A few years ago it became clear somebody else was in charge and I feel I hold on a lot tighter to her than she does to me, and that slightly bothers me.

“She’s so independent and sometimes I wish she wasn’t.”

Edun Spring 2012 collection

So yes — Bono is seen loud and clear in today’s WWD shot, and the first question isn’t to Hewson about her show but to Bono: What did you think of your wife’s show today? And Bono answers the second WWD question, too: Why did you think the Edun model was a good way to accomplish some of your philanthropic goals?

Bono: Aid, which I spend half of my life fighting for, is a stopgap. Trade is what takes people out of poverty. Africa faces a couple of big hurdles in the next few years. AGOA [the African Growth and Opportunity Act], which is a trade pact between the U.S. and the continent of Africa, runs out in September of next year. [AGOA expires in 2015, but the special apparel provision expires next September.] Unless Africa starts to produce its own high-level fabrics and improves quality of production, many, many factories will close. That’s the worry. Now the opportunity is open-ended. This is a continent that by 2050 will dwarf any other continent in population. Its richness is well known, under the ground. We just need to get it into the people’s hands. The tools to do that are creativity and commerce. We want to be a part of that.

But finally we hear from the brains behind Edun, Ali Hewson: