Introducing Soilless cotton

For thousands of years, cotton has been cultivated in open fields, where the changing conditions of each growing season, from rainfall and temperature to the soil itself, influence how the plant develops. 

Today, new cultivation methods are beginning to explore different ways of growing cotton. Since 2021, the Spanish start-up Mediterranean Agro Technologies (Magtech) has been growing cotton using hydroponic farming, where water and nutrients are delivered directly to the roots rather than through soil. 

Growing inside a greenhouse allows conditions to be monitored throughout the season. Excess water is collected, analysed and recirculated in a closed system, while the approach also aims to reduce reliance on arable land and irrigation water. Hydroponic farming is widely used for vegetables and herbs, but growing cotton this way is still relatively new.  

The first garments made with soilless cotton arrive as part of ARKET’s autumn 2026 collections, including ribbed jersey long-sleeves for women and a fitted ribbed T-shirt for men. Our new collaboration with Magtech reflects an ongoing curiosity about how some of our most familiar materials are grown, and how natural fibres can be cultivated in new ways.