Italian fast fashion stronghold transforms into battleground for Chinese mafia
The Ongoing Chinese Mafia Wars in Prato, Italy: A Battleground for Control
The city of Prato, near Florence, has found itself at the heart of a volatile conflict between Chinese mafia groups, earning the nickname of "the hanger war." This conflict, primarily driven by violent turf wars, centers around control of the lucrative garment and textile industry in Prato, Europe's largest apparel manufacturing hub.
These criminal clans engage in a wide range of illegal activities, including loan sharking, underground gambling, drug trafficking, money laundering, labor and sex exploitation, and counterfeit goods production. They employ violence and intimidation to maintain dominance over the industry.
The roots of these conflicts can be traced back to economic control over Prato’s fast-fashion district, where many Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs and mafia-linked groups operate in a corrupt system often referred to as the "Prato system." This system is rife with irregularities and collusion with some local actors. The fierce competition for market dominance has escalated into violent confrontations, such as the assassination of Zhang Dayong, a key representative of one of the mafia factions.
The impacts on local society have been significant. The conflicts have introduced violence and instability into communities, affected legitimate businesses, attracted heightened law enforcement attention, and increased public concern over the infiltration of Chinese organized crime in Italy’s economy. The wars have also spread beyond Prato to other cities such as Rome, involving broader criminal networks.
As of mid-2025, the situation in Prato remains tense. Italian police have conducted nationwide raids in multiple provinces, including Prato, resulting in arrests of at least 13 individuals linked to Chinese organized crime syndicates engaged in drug trafficking, exploitation, and money laundering. These operations represent a significant state response aiming to dismantle mafia-like structures entrenched in the Chinese community across Italy. However, tensions and violence related to these mafia factions continue to be a pressing concern.
In addition, the city's mayor resigned in June 2023 amidst a corruption investigation, accused of trading favors with a businessman for votes. The escalating crime in Prato has become a huge business operation and has expanded beyond Italy, particularly to France and Spain.
The union has secured regular contracts under national law for workers at over 70 companies, but this will not help those caught in the midst of the mafia war. The city's apparel industry, which churns out low-priced items that end up in shops across Europe, is described as "free from laws, from contracts." The Chinese mafia controls the production of hundreds of millions of clothes hangers each year, a market estimated to be worth 100 million euros ($115 million).
The Chinese mafia groups thrive on the "Prato system," which is long rife with corruption and irregularities, particularly in the fast-fashion sector. The city's prosecutor, Luca Tescaroli, has appealed to Rome for help, requesting an anti-mafia division, reinforcements for judges and police. The future of Prato remains uncertain as it navigates these complex and dangerous conflicts.
- Despite the ongoing efforts by Italian authorities to dismantle Chinese organized crime syndicates, the conflicts in Prato have expanded beyond Italy's borders, reaching countries like France.
- The Chinese mafia in Prato has secured a significant foothold in the city's garment industry, controlling the production of hundreds of millions of clothes hangers each year, a market estimated to be worth over 100 million euros ($115 million), evading legal regulations.
- The Fallout from the Chinese mafia wars in Prato extends beyond the apparel industry, impacting general news with instances of violence, corruption, and crime-and-justice concerns, as shown by the resignation of the city's mayor amidst a corruption investigation.
