A finishing technique that is often applied to fabrics with a deep pile, such as velvet, but can also work with a heavily woven linen or cotton.
In this process, the fabric is placed between two heated cylinders, one of which is engraved with a pattern. Under heat and pressure the design is stamped into the fabric, embossing it.
All fibres can be gauffraged for effect, but the bounce of natural materials can’t be totally subdued and the pattern will lessen with laundering; only synthetic fibres can be permanently gauffered.