Ms. Kubersky and her sister, Sarah, have parlayed their
distaste for meat and, for that matter, all goods derived
from animals, into a vigorous business selling vegan
products - that is, imitation leather shoes, bags and
motorcycle jackets - at MooShoes, their boutique in Lower
Manhattan. MooShoes, where the best sellers include
pointy-toed microfiber dress shoes ($85) and canvas bags,
is one in an expanding roster of shops catering to people
who, from motives of conscience or style, have banned
animal products from their diets and, often, their
wardrobes as well.

"I haven't given up wool or silk," said Jen Mazer, a
23-year-old New York Web site designer, "but leather is
where I draw the line." Until recently ferreting out
stylish vegan clothing and accessories has been a futile
exercise. But Ms. Mazer says she's impressed with her new
options. "It looks like more designers are realizing that
people have become more conscious about the kinds of
products they buy," she said.

Dozens of merchants now offer wares that are labeled
cruelty free. Pangea in Rockville, Md., sells vegan shoes,
bags, wallets and guitar straps; the Web site Vegan
Essentials offers hemp shoes and clothes. Vans now includes
vegan sneakers in its footwear line. And Stella McCartney,
long an activist for animal rights, has added shoes stamped
"suitable for vegetarians" to her collection. Her fabric
and Lucite pumps are available at Nordstrom.

Vegan products are finding takers not only among the
roughly six million Americans who call themselves
vegetarians, but also among shoppers attracted to prices
that are often 60 percent to 75 percent lower than leather.
A spike in demand prompted Earth Shoes to introduce some 15
vegan styles this year. "We are marketing to people who,
whether or not they are vegans themselves, would be happy
to have stylish vegan products," said Vern Aisner, the
company's director of marketing.

High-profile animal rights activists like the actress
Alicia Silverstone and the skateboarder Ed Templeton have
helped fuel the trend. "Today vegan products appeal to a
younger generation that is interested in culture and
fashion and has a sense of humor," said Josh Hooten, the
publisher of Herbivore, a national quarterly for
vegetarians.

All the more reason for the makers of vegan styles to buff
up their image. "A lot of people still assume we are
granola hippies or that we are overly political," said
Jeremy Crown, an owner of Otsu, a San Francisco store
selling vegan accessories. But there are no tie-dye
products and no harsh slogans on T-shirts. "Hopefully we
will change people's minds about what a vegan looks like,"
he said.