A TOWEL IS not the first place you might look to find art. But Plunge, a wearable art business based in San Francisco, has partnered with up-and-coming artists on limited-edition towels, blankets, and other accessories to striking effect. Once a haven for artists, the city by the bay has seen a decline in their numbers and creative outlets as the cost of living rises. Plunge founder Jessica Thornton Murphy, a designer herself, is seeking to celebrate and support the art community by commissioning patterns from independent artists in the area and hosting shows featuring artists who have collaborated with her company.

Plunge’s 100% cotton towels are jacquard-woven by one of the last remaining U.S. manufacturers still using the Jacquard loom, invented in 1804. Only available in limited quantities, the attractive designs are conversation starters and collectibles. The hand-towel pattern, designed by Thornton Murphy herself, is always on display at my house. Hands of all shapes and sizes are outlined against a sage, prairie-green background, bringing a color and personality to my otherwise dull outdoor furniture.

The collection’s other artists include San Francisco-based Annie Duncan, whose playful towel designs epitomize summer: Large, scrumptious cherries set against a blue-and-white background and white daisies overlaying yellowish-orange are inspired by the Bay Area’s light, landscape, and colors.

Along with beach accessories, Plunge sells other items ranging from adorable seahorse- and beach ball-shaped candles, designed by New York City artist Janie Korn, to upcycled terry-cloth shorts and cotton canvas bucket hats. While many artists may have been pushed out of the Bay Area, for those who remain, the Plunge line feels like a cheerful act of resistance.