What Does Arbor Vitae Mean? The Story Behind Our Name

Arbor vitae (pronounced AR-bor VY-tee) is Latin for “tree of life”. Arbor means tree and vitae means “of life”. It is also the name we chose for our clothing brand, Arbor Vitae Styles.

Where the phrase “arbor vitae” comes from

The phrase has been used in several fields for centuries:

• In botany, “arborvitae” is the common name for Thuja, a family of evergreen conifers. The name dates back centuries, to when European explorers in Canada learned from Indigenous people that the tree had healing properties.
• In anatomy, the arbor vitae is the branching white matter inside the cerebellum of the brain, named for its tree-like shape.
• In art and belief, the tree of life appears across many cultures as a symbol of growth, connection and renewal.

Why we named our brand Arbor Vitae

We wanted a name that described how we think clothing should work. A tree is rooted in nature, grows slowly and lasts for generations. We want our clothes to do the same: made from soft, breathable handloom cotton, comfortable from the first wear, and good for years rather than a single season.

The tree-of-life mark in our logo carries the same idea: strong roots, open branches and quiet, steady growth.

About Arbor Vitae Styles

Arbor Vitae Styles — often simply called Arbor Vitae — is a premium everyday clothing brand from Kerala, India. We make plain handloom cotton shirts and t-shirts — full sleeve, half sleeve and polo neck — for men, women and unisex, and deliver across India from arborvitaestyles.com.

Quick answers

Is arbor vitae one word or two?

Both are used. The plant is usually written as one word, “arborvitae”. The Latin phrase and our brand name are written as two words: Arbor Vitae.

Is Arbor Vitae the same as Arbor Vitae Styles?

Yes. Arbor Vitae Styles is our full brand name; many customers simply call us Arbor Vitae.