“How I shop without sight”: intermediation and inclusion in the fashion mediascape

Jordan Foster

Chapter 10 in Research Handbook on the Sociology of Consumption, 2026, pp 128-138 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Social media platforms have given rise to a plethora of influencers such as fashion and style bloggers. Online, these influencers function as cultural intermediaries and arbiters of taste, framing consumer purchases and, importantly, shaping what sells. The chapter presents a case study of the highly popular YouTuber Molly Burke, a blind fashion lover who shares her thoughts on both fashion goods and the barriers faced when shopping for them. The chapter uses Molly's videos to investigate fashion intermediation and accessibility online, with a critical look at the intersection of disability and fashion consumption—a theorized but understudied area. It details a discourse analysis of some of Molly's most widely viewed videos, tracing her dialogue with audiences to understand: (1) how fashion purchases are positioned for viewers; and (2) what this positioning tells us about accessibility and inclusion in the fashion industry. While Molly is often visibly excited by her purchases, she draws important attention to the ways in which fashion consumption can be disabling.

Keywords: Consumption; Disability; Fashion; Intermediation; Media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035310500
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