The union was founded in 1866 when Peter Shorrocks convened a conference in Manchester of local societies of tailors.
This last point became increasingly controversial within the union and, in 1900, it finally created a female section, and changed its name to the "Amalgamated Society of Tailors and Tailoresses".
Members of the Female Section paid lower contributions, but also receive fewer benefits from the union.
Despite this, the Amalgamated Society continued to grow, reaching 12,000 members in 1911, and including workers in closely related trades from 1927, when it adopted the name Amalgamated Society of Tailors, Tailoresses and Kindred Workers.
This enabled it to maintain membership levels despite a reduction in the number of jobs in the industry, due to increased mechanisation.