Bodj

Bodj Fair Trade Fireside Accessories

Bodj is a fair trade fireside initiative associated with Charnwood, working with small community projects in Cambodia to produce handmade log baskets, log holders and fireplace accessories.

Rather than mass-producing identical fireside storage, Bodj uses traditional weaving, metalworking and sewing techniques together with locally sourced and recycled materials.

Bonfire currently offers 11 Bodj products, with the collection concentrated on log baskets and fireside storage.

Choose a Bodj Basket by How You Use It

Bodj Basketware – Bamboo, Rattan & Water Hyacinth

Bodj’s basketware projects use natural materials including bamboo, rattan, rush and water hyacinth.

The materials are woven by hand using established Cambodian techniques, meaning each basket has slight variations in texture, dimensions and colour.

The Bulb Basket, for example, is made from tightly woven stripped bamboo and takes inspiration from baskets traditionally used by rice farmers for planting seeds.

The Angkor and Floppy designs provide a more relaxed woven appearance and work well where the log basket is intended to soften the hard materials normally found around a stove or fireplace.

Bodj Fat Lip, G Holder & Lotus

Some Bodj products combine traditional basket weaving with a more architectural steel frame.

The Fat Lip uses steel and woven rattan to create a substantial contemporary basket with a distinctive oversized rim.

The G Holder is more compact and vertically proportioned, making it useful where floor space beside the stove is limited.

The Lotus Log Holder takes inspiration from the shape of lotus petals and is designed as much as a decorative fireside object as practical log storage.

These models work particularly well beside contemporary stoves where a conventional wicker basket may look too traditional.

Bodj Log Hoop

The Log Hoop takes the simplest approach in the current collection.

It is made from handcrafted steel in Phnom Penh and forms a circular frame for carrying, storing and displaying firewood.

The design can also fold flatter when it is not being used, making it useful where permanent bulky log storage is undesirable.

Recycled Rice-Sack Log Baskets

Bodj’s Recycleware project takes discarded Cambodian rice sacks and turns them into lightweight log and kindling buckets.

The material is collected and sewn by a small project in northern Cambodia. Even smaller offcuts are reused for decorative details rather than simply being discarded.

Bonfire currently offers both the Green Recycled Log Basket and Union Recycled Log Basket.

Because the original sacks differ, no two finished baskets are exactly alike.

Three Cambodian Community Projects

Bodj currently works with three principal types of project:

• Basketware – traditional weaving using locally sourced natural materials
• Ironware – metalworking in Phnom Penh, including training for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Recycleware – transforming used rice sacks into useful storage products

Charnwood states that the projects are intentionally kept relatively small in scale, helping preserve traditional skills while supporting fair wages and responsible trading practices.

Which Material Is Best for Log Storage?

There is no single best material; it depends on how the basket will be used.

Bamboo and rattan provide a warm, natural appearance and work well for carrying and storing logs beside the stove.

Steel-framed holders provide greater structure and are better suited where the logs themselves are intended to remain visible as part of the room.

Recycled rice-sack baskets are much lighter and flexible, making them easy to move and useful for logs, kindling or general household storage.

Remember That Bodj Products Are Handmade

Handmade construction means Bodj products should not be expected to have the uniformity of a moulded plastic or machine-produced metal container.

Small variations in dimensions, weave, texture and colour are normal and form part of the character of the product.

This is particularly noticeable with natural fibres and recycled rice-sack designs.

Choosing the Right Size Log Basket

Consider both the amount of wood you normally bring indoors and the available space next to the fireplace.

A large basket reduces trips to an outside log store but can dominate a small hearth. A compact upright holder such as the G Holder uses less floor area and can be a better solution beside a smaller stove.

Also consider the weight once the basket is full. If you plan to carry logs directly in the basket, handle position and overall size are just as important as appearance.

Buy Bodj from Bonfire

Bonfire supplies the current Bodj collection online with UK delivery available, or products can be ordered for collection from our showroom near Reading, Berkshire.

You can also browse our wider fireside accessories collection for companion sets, fireplace tools, fenders and other products to complete your stove or fireplace.

Bodj FAQs

What is Bodj?

Bodj is a fair trade fireside initiative associated with Charnwood that works with small community projects in Cambodia to produce handmade fireplace accessories.

Where are Bodj products made?

Bodj products are handmade through projects in Cambodia, including basket-weaving communities and an ironworking initiative in Phnom Penh.

What are Bodj baskets made from?

Depending on the product, materials include bamboo, rattan, water hyacinth, rush, handcrafted steel and recycled rice sacks.

Are all Bodj baskets identical?

No. They are handmade using natural or recycled materials, so slight differences in dimensions, colour, texture and weave are expected.

Which Bodj basket is best for a contemporary stove?

Steel-and-rattan products such as the Lotus, G Holder and Fat Lip provide a more structured contemporary appearance, while the Log Hoop offers a particularly simple steel design.

Are Bodj rice-sack baskets recycled?

Yes. Bodj’s Recycleware project repurposes used Cambodian rice sacks into lightweight log and storage buckets.