The Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters and Allied Workers (ASJFH) was founded in 1872.

Based in Denton, Greater Manchester, it gradually expanded its membership, first to Stockport, then to London, Atherstone, Nuneaton and St Albans[1] One of the ASJFH's early campaigns was against the employment of women in the industry in the West Midlands.

Having lost this dispute,[2] in 1888 it formed the Amalgamated Felt Hat Trimmers, Woolformers and Allied Workers Union (AFHTW&AWF) to represent women working in the industry.

[4] From 1893, the organisations began producing union labels for members to place inside hats they had made.

[8] During World War II, the union was one of a handful of organisations specifically listed in the Nazi Black Book as dangerously Marxist.