The paper presents results of the discussions undertaken by apparel industry experts on mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and future crises. The first section summarizes national policies implemented during the first two years of the pandemic and their implications for longterm social protection in the apparel industry. Next, the paper addresses debates among apparel industry constituencies on policies for social protection, trade and human rights due diligence from an international perspective. The second section identifies changes to the sector during the pandemic and provides the context for a new generation of policy-making for the industry. The paper concludes by identifying lessons and recommends actions to advance policies for a more resilient and inclusive sector.