In 2005 it had 217 member organizations in 110 countries, representing a combined membership of over 10 million workers.

The ITGLWF was founded in 1970 as a result of the merger of the International Textile and Garment Workers' Federation and the International Shoe and Leather Workers' Federation.

The organization held a congress every four years, consisting of delegates from the member organisations.

The congress established the broad lines of the ITGLWF's policies and actions.

In 2007, the International Federation Textile-Clothing, a former affiliate of the World Confederation of Labour, merged into the ITGLWF.