Arnold sisters talk life, new Amarcord campaign
Published:Friday | June 21, 2024 | 12:06 AM
Swiss-Italian luxury menswear brand Amarcord called on SAINT International model twins Nickosha and Noella Arnold to add refined femininity to its recently unveiled spring/summer 2024 collection campaign. The siblings, domiciled in Europe — Noella in Switzerland and Nickosha in Norway — shot the new campaign two months ago in Puglia, Italy, and are ecstatic with the finished results of the Athos Abreu-photographed visuals.
“We had an amazing time. Keren Torsello-Naldi, the creative director, did such an amazing job of organising everything. We were in Puglia for two days,” recalled Noella of the May shoot. “On the second day, we had a 5:30 a.m. call time to catch the sunrise on the beach, it was not easy to wake up. Nickosha and I had cold showers to kick start the day and it was worth it. Everyone was professional and the energy on set was good.” Her sister concurred with the assessment. “I liked that everyone was grown and mature, it was a very professional set with experienced people. The chemistry was good among all of us, from the photographers to the models. We had a good time and some amazing food. We had dinner at a seafood restaurant one night that was just unforgettable,” Nickosha informed.
The European-Jamaican identical twins — who grew up in Irish Town, St Andrew — are chicly clothed in bespoke tailored suits, shirts and shorts by Amarcord’s sibling designers Keren and Samuel Naldi. The designing pair describe their new output as “inspired by the radiant allure of Italy with vibrant colours and airy fabrics, perfect for any occasion from sun-drenched mornings by the sea to balmy evenings.” For Swiss resident Noella, she’s an honest-to-goodness fan of the 2016-founded brand. “I was familiar with the brand as their main location is in the city Zug where I live. I love that they understand who their clients are. Amarcord is a true quiet luxury brand with top-quality fabrics and fits,” explained the married model, a former public relations manager and mother of two young boys.
Meanwhile, Nickosha relished the brand’s timeless, simple aesthetic “As I get older, I am more concerned with quality and comfort. Amarcord is high-quality Italian tailoring; the fabric is top of the line and the fit is perfection,” said Nickosha, who holds a daytime job as an office manager for a tech company in Oslo, in-between raising two sons with her husband who runs a microbrewery with several friends.
The Arnold sisters’ modelling journey originated in Jamaica in 2000 with SAINT International when the pair were scouted by the agency’s CEO Deiwght Peters while attending The University of the West Indies, Mona. During breaks from tertiary studies, the twins travelled extensively to London and New York for Fashion Week runway shows, and also landed advertising campaigns for United Colors of Benntton and Virgin Mobile. Twenty plus years on and having traded lives in the Caribbean for Europe, the Arnold twins have acclimated well to their surroundings. “Norway is a good place to live, it’s safe, organised and things work. I also enjoy being able to move between the European countries with ease and experience the variety of cultures. The biggest plus is that Ella [Noella] is only a two-hour flight away in Switzerland,” Nickosha noted.
On the flipside, Noella countered, “I currently live in central Switzerland and since becoming a mom I gave up my PR job so that I can be present for my family. Maybe in a year or two when my little one starts primary school, I may consider getting back out there. I like being in close proximity to other countries. Switzerland is also unique. There are four official languages. And when you are in a specific language region, it is like you have left the country. So, the Italian speaking area has a real Italian flair. And likewise, the French-speaking region,” she explained.
Besides their new Amarcord campaign, the twins juggle part-time modelling assignments as they come their way. Noella consistently does e-commerce work for Globus, a Swiss luxury department store for the past year. Nickosha walked in Oslo Fashion Week and together, they were subjects of a Vogue Scandinavia profile last year for the magazine’s October/November issue. Modelling though is trumped by what both deem their most important job of all: motherhood. “It is challenging and rewarding,” admitted Nickosha of her parental journey to date. “My boys are now seven and five. I love that I have to challenge myself in order to spend time with them. For example, I have to learn to ski, ice skate, and cycle because these are activities the boys enjoy, and we get to do them together.”
Likewise, maternal joy is ever-present for Noella, who alongside her husband who works for Norway’s treasury, have their hands full with their own set of sons. “Being a mom is great. It’s challenging, but worth it. My boys are aged eight and five. It’s incredible to watch how much of ourselves we pass on to our kids,” she shared. “My boys are fluent English and Patois speakers who have a strong sense of their Jamaican identity, all because of me. And that is truly satisfying to see.”