Although based on a plethora of smaller state based unions that had been operating from at least the mid nineteenth century, the Federated Clothing Trades of the Commonwealth of Australia was not formed and registered until 1907. As elements of the trade, such as the Victorian Clothing Operatives' Union and the Federated Straw Hatters' Association of Australia incorporated themselves into the union, members sought a change of name to the Federated Clothing & Allied Trades Union, which they achieved in 1922. By 1924 it had become the Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Union and in 1947 the Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia. The union's first amalgamation occurred in 1992, when it merged with the Amalgamated Footwear & Textile Workers' Union of Australia to become the Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia.

Although based on a plethora of smaller state based unions that had been operating from at least the mid nineteenth century, the Federated Clothing Trades of the Commonwealth of Australia was not formed and registered until 1907. As elements of the trade, such as the Victorian Clothing Operatives' Union and the Federated Straw Hatters' Association of Australia incorporated themselves into the union, members sought a change of name to the Federated Clothing & Allied Trades Union, which they achieved in 1922. By 1924 it had become the Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Union and in 1947 the Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia. The union's first amalgamation occurred in 1992, when it merged with the Amalgamated Footwear & Textile Workers' Union of Australia to become the Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia.