The organisation was a global union federation representing workers in the textile and clothing industries. It was formed on 17 June 1960 in Copenhagen through the merger of the International Federation of Textile Workers' Associations and the International Garment Workers' Federation.
Led by Jack Greenhalgh (general secretary), John Newton (president), and Alphonse Baeyens (vice-president), the federation operated for a decade before merging with the International Shoe and Leather Workers' Federation on 5 June 1970 in Folkestone, England. This merger created the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF).