Chinese Mafia Battles Control Fast Fashion Hub Prato Italy

The fatal shooting of Zhang Dayong in Rome has been linked to a violent conflict known as the "hanger war" between rival Chinese mafia factions vying for control over Prato, Italy's largest apparel manufacturing center. Prato, a key hub for Made in Italy fast fashion, is experiencing a surge in crime including assaults, arson, and illegal activities such as betting, prostitution, and drug trafficking, fueled by these gangs. The mafia groups compete to dominate the lucrative clothes hanger market, estimated at 100 million euros, and the broader apparel transportation industry, while also promoting illegal immigration to supply cheap labor. Prosecutor Luca Tescaroli has called for anti-mafia reinforcements as the criminal networks' influence has expanded beyond Italy into France and Spain. The so-called "Prato system," characterized by widespread corruption, labor abuses, tax evasion, and customs fraud, allows these groups to exploit thousands of small Chinese-run workshops producing garments under exploitative conditions. Experts warn that controlling Prato equates to commanding much of Europe's fast-fashion sector, reflecting the mafia's growing economic and territorial ambitions.