Designers and architects have always been an international bunch. Fashions are global and have been for a very long time. The Romans built things in a deliberat

Designers and architects have always been an international bunch. Fashions are global and have been for a very long time. The Romans built things in a deliberately Greek style. French Gothic architecture was copied across Europe. Neoclassical architecture saw the Greek style return and used in government building around the world. The Victorians built the same stuff everywhere. Hollywood brought Art Deco to the world in the 1920s and 30s. The style which the author complains about so much is predominately the Mid-century Modern of the 1950s and 60s. So no, fashion existed long ago. And it was global long ago.