The union was founded in 1851 as the Huddersfield Operative Dyers' Association and Relief Society.
In recognition of this, it renamed itself as the Huddersfield, Bradford, Barnsley and District Dyers, Finishers, Millers, Scourers and Kindred Trades Association.
The small Lancashire Cotton Skein Dyers Association merged with it in 1890, and by 1901, its membership had grown to 1,270.
[1] In 1902, the union decided to begin admitting women, although they were only ever a small minority of members.
It renamed itself as the "National Society of Dyers and Finishers" in 1908, membership having reached nearly 4,000.