Deborah Hosaki has only been in business six months, but she’s already banking on her handmade fashion accessories making a big splash with the Hollywood set.

The St. Vital entrepreneur launched Hoshii Designs last November. She recently shipped 100 of her boutique items to Universal City, Calif. to be part of the gift bags handed out to celebrities at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards on Sun., June 3.

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Johnny Depp and Rachel McAdams are some of the stars scheduled to make an appearance during the show.

"It’s a rare opportunity for exposure that I’m not likely to get anywhere else," says Hosaki, who is a tax credit assessor by day and runs Hoshii Designs by night.

Hosaki’s collection of sewn boutique items includes handbags, scarves and other fashion accessories inspired by the Japanese artisan talents of both her grandmothers. She will be gifting two of her most popular designs: a fortune cookie change purse made from natural wool felt and a jeweled zipper pull.

"My spare bedroom doubles as my studio. The sewing machine I use was given to me by my grandmother when I was very young. Sewing and arts and crafts became an important part of my life at an early age," she says.

Hosaki says she focuses on using "renewable, sustainable and Earth-friendly materials" in her designs, incorporating vintage and reclaimed fabrics where she can.

Hosaki’s fashion accessories were handpicked by members of The Artisan Group, which promotes handcrafted products at high-profile celebrity such as the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards.

Louise Vargas of SoGa Soap and Cupfakery is taking part in the celebrity gift-giving at the MTV Movie Awards as well. The Wolseley soap-maker also participated in gifting at the Oscars, and she says the increased exposure helped boost business.

Majda Ficko is another Winnipeg entrepreneur who recently gifted her Baby Butz Cream at the Oscars and Golden Globes. She says celebrity gifting can cost thousands of dollars and not everyone sees a return on their investment.

"It’s a gamble," she says. "You’re basically giving away your product for a chance to hook into the celebrity industry."

Ficko says the payoff is when celebrities provide endorsements or are spotted wearing or using the gifter’s products. She contends that gifters who can pick and choose celebrity events — ensuring that their products are aligned with target markets — have the best chance of success. 

"For me, it’s been a positive experience," Ficko says.

Hosaki is confident that her unique boutique items will hit the mark, explaining that the young, hip pop culture crowd who attend and tune into MTV Movie Awards is one of her key markets.

"I’m ecstatic about this opportunity," she says.