alternatehistory.com

According to Wiki and a few other sources I have read, Europeans were fairly unique in developing fashion in the 1200s or so. Prior to that date, clothing just didn't change much and was mostly functional. Certainly there were different visual designs in various cultures but the actual articles didn't change shape often. Moreover, other societies viewed the constant changes in European fashion as indicating European cultural instability and viewed that as a weakness.

So I ask: Why did other societies not develop fashion in the way Europe did, or conversely, why did Europe develop fashion? How would it have gone otherwise?

Or are my sources bunk?
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