Star Trek: 10 Secrets Of The Enterprise Uniforms

In the decade and half since the cancelation of Enterprise and the failure of UPN (aka the United Paramount Network), producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga have spoken freely about their struggle with network interference.

According to Berman and Braga, UPN rushed Enterprise into production over their objections, vetoed plans to set the first season entirely on Earth, and, oh yeah, there was that time network executives tried to force the show to feature a new band each week... incongruously performing 2000s-era pop music in the mess hall of the Enterprise.

Despite being able to avoid boy bands aboard the NX-01, there was one change that UPN utterly insisted on: No quilted jackets.

In his audio commentary for Enterprise's pilot episode, "Broken Bow", Brannon Braga told the odd story of Enterprise's away team jackets. Featured in just two episodes, "Broken Bow" and "Oasis", these away team jackets recalled the coats worn by Pike and his crew in first pilot for The Original Series, "The Cage". Designed by Robert Blackman (of course), these jackets fit over the standard Starfleet jumpsuit and were made from a quilted material.

For some reason (which Braga was unable to explain), UPN hated the look of the jackets and demanded the show never use them again. New, non-quilted windbreakers were quickly made and went on to appear in numerous episodes. The original textured jacket, while banned, did appear one more time, worn by Starfleet Security's Commander Collins in the fourth season episode "Affliction". Must've sneaked past UPN's quilted jacket censor that time.