abstract
| - The Starfleet uniform itself also bore several distinctive features not present in uniforms of the later centuries, most prominent being several zippers and pockets, and an assignment patch (based on the wearer's home assignment) worn on the left sleeve. The uniforms were made out of a flame retardant material. (ENT: "Cease Fire") Fitted close to the body, the uniform jumpsuit closed at the front in addition to zipping at the cuffs and pant legs. The uniform was also marked by several pockets, lining the legs, arms and chest. The rank insignia, presented as rectangular silver pips, was displayed on the right chest, set within the division color piping. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "First Flight") Designed by veteran TNG/DS9/VOY costume designer Robert Blackman, the 22nd century Starfleet duty uniform first appeared in "Broken Bow", and was used for the entirety of Star Trek: Enterprise. Intended to be a precursor to the uniforms seen on The Original Series, the uniforms strongly resembled the flight suits worn by US and NATO military aviation and missile personnel of the present. The uniforms also resembled those worn by Zefram Cochrane and the mission crew of the warp-ship Phoenix during their historic mission seen in Star Trek: First Contact. While Gene Roddenberry had dictated that zippers, buttons and other "modern" closures would be antiquated by the time of the 23rd and 24th centuries, Blackman utilized an abundance of zippers and buttons in his costume designs for Enterprise indicating its position in time before the original Star Trek. Debuting during the second season of Enterprise, "new" uniforms were introduced, dyed a slightly lighter blue. Initially worn only by the regular cast members, the uniforms were eventually used by the entire crew (though some background performers could still be seen wearing the older, darker version through the run of the series). Interestingly, despite being set nearly ten years earlier, the light-blue versions were worn in the episode "First Flight" .
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