Uniforms

[backstept]

was there ever an official explanation why Voyager never updated their uniforms once they contacted Earth via the Pathfinder Project? Earth sent them tons of information on tech advances back home since they've been gone, and presumably it included the updated uniform regulations . . . it would be easy enough to recycle their old style uniforms with the replicators . . .

any ideas?

 

[Space Cowboy]

There never was an official reason, but I figure that Janeway wanted to keep the uniforms as part of some sense of esprit de corps. IIRC, the off-screen reason was that Braga hated the FC uniforms.

 

[Cali]

Probably because Voyager had better things to do with its energy reserves than replicate a lot of new uniforms?

 

[Space Cowboy]

But didn't the uniforms cycle through the replicator system to be cleaned, or was there a laundromat aboard the ship?

 

[amalie]

There never was an official reason, but I figure that Janeway wanted to keep the uniforms as part of some sense of esprit de corps. IIRC, the off-screen reason was that Braga hated the FC uniforms.

I didn't realise he hated them, they were always my favourite uniform style.

As far as an on screen reason I just asumed it was energy conservation.

 

[Cali]

But didn't the uniforms cycle through the replicator system to be cleaned, or was there a laundromat aboard the ship?

I guess maybe it took less energy to clean the uniforms than it did to replicate new ones.

 

[captainkirk]

I guess maybe it took less energy to clean the uniforms than it did to replicate new ones.

Well you just have to target and recycle the dirt, not the whole uniform.

 

[Shintaek]

Probably because Voyager had better things to do with its energy reserves than replicate a lot of new uniforms?

Like use the Holodeck for long periods of time. I assumed it was either energy conservation, it wasn't important matter, or both.

I didn't realise he hated them, they were always my favourite uniform style.

As did I. With ENT's uniforms at 2nd the most functional, cause they have pockets. VOY's and DS9 season's 1-5 are #3.

 

[Akiraprise]

There never was an official reason, but I figure that Janeway wanted to keep the uniforms as part of some sense of esprit de corps. IIRC, the off-screen reason was that Braga hated the FC uniforms.

I had never heard that Braga hated them. The FC uniforms are my favorite too, and I was hoping they would switch at some point. Was there an interview with Braga where he said this?

I always figured the real world explanation for not switching was a tight budget.

 

[Dream]

I always figured the real world explanation for not switching was a tight budget.

They used the budget from First Contact to make all the actors on DS9 the new grey uniforms.

 

[Akiraprise]

I'm sure they had plenty of "extra" uniforms lying around for background people, but every main cast member would have needed a new suit. I have no idea how much that costs. But if we go by some of the auctions I've seen thousands of dollars.

 

[Cali]

Probably because Voyager had better things to do with its energy reserves than replicate a lot of new uniforms?

Like use the Holodeck for long periods of time. I assumed it was either energy conservation, it wasn't important matter, or both.

Yes yes, but we all know that Voyager's energy reserves or lack of them were a slight plot hole.

 

[Timo]

To be sure, this "energy conservation" thing wasn't really part of the ship's plight as much as people seem to think.

It was mentioned briefly in "Parallax", when the ship was just days away from her fateful meeting with the Caretaker, and damage to key systems rather than shortage of resources was the main concern. Although replicator rations stayed a feature of the show till the very end, energy shortage was only brought up again in "Demon", supposedly after a uniquely long run between refueling opportunities.

The replicator rations were probably more a disciplinary measure than a conservation one anyway, or in any case primarily used as such. Outside "Demon", Janeway never turned down a scheme on the basis that it would consume too much energy or fuel. She had to have some other reason not to change the uniforms, then.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Starbreaker]

I think there's an article where they talk about distinguishing Voyager from DS9 visually by using the uniforms. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Koinek]

Canonically it came down to preserving their energy rations and I think someone a couple years back here claimed it might have come down to a sense of pride within the crew. Sort of distinguished them from all the other Starfleet folks.

 

[GotNoRice]

Yeah, they really should have switched. Beyond that I also would have liked to have seen them incorporate quantum torpedo technology into the ship by the end as well.

But hey, they did get to use the first contact pulse rifles mixed in with the already nice looking ones they had since the beginning. Except for one episode or so all DS9 ever got was recycled TNG phaser rifles.

 

[Green Shirt]

I guess maybe it took less energy to clean the uniforms than it did to replicate new ones.

Well you just have to target and recycle the dirt, not the whole uniform.

What are some possible uses for recycled dirt?

 

[Starbreaker]

Doesn't everything supposedly just go back in as energy?

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

I guess maybe it took less energy to clean the uniforms than it did to replicate new ones.

Well you just have to target and recycle the dirt, not the whole uniform.

What are some possible uses for recycled dirt?

Well, coffee grounds, for one.

Guess that explains Janeway.

 

[JayTheTrekkie]

There never was an official reason, but I figure that Janeway wanted to keep the uniforms as part of some sense of esprit de corps. IIRC, the off-screen reason was that Braga hated the FC uniforms.

How come Brago hated the FC uniforms? We all love the current uniforms, don't we

Was it Berman's idea for the uniform change starting with First Gontact for TNG/DS9?