Hu Jian-bing and Yang Guang are the new Europeans. They work in Prato, a city of 200,000 people just outside Florence in Italy that has the largest Chinese population in Europe. Residency records show about 16,000 Chinese live in the city known for its textiles industry but officials estimate the number could soar to 50,000 when counting illegal labourers.

Mr Hu, a factory owner, settled in the Tuscan city 20 years ago as part of the influx of Chinese attracted by its history as Europe’s textile capital and its stock of empty warehouses for rent.

“When we arrived we worked for the Italians. Now they work for us,” says Mr Hu. Chinese-owned ready-to-wear factories in Prato, which flourished as traditional and high-end Italian textile makers were driven out of business, have supported Chinese communities all over Europe.