Dakota Jackson’s Rhythms

“Money should not be a determinant in surrounding oneself with good design,” said furniture designer Dakota Jackson.

The ‘70s party guy and ‘80s Gap-ad hipster has a new hat for the ‘90s--that of furniture mogul. His latest guise has been incubating for quite some time.

“I always wanted to be an industrialist like Andrew Carnegie,” said the man who also lists magician and postmodern dancer on his resume.

Jackson has been producing one-of-a-kind furniture since 1977. He’s a special favorite among those who travel in the fast lane, yet, try as he might, a licensing deal with a mass manufacturer has been elusive.

“No one was interested. They didn’t consider me well-known enough,” he said.

But after he was chosen to represent the cognoscenti in ads for Absolut vodka and the Gap, his Q factor shot up and opened the door to a deal with Lane, a huge North Carolina-based furniture maker. The New Rhythm collection, introduced last month, will be available this fall at major department and furniture stores.

Among the 60-piece group of startlingly glamorous pieces is a chest similar to one in Jackson’s signature line, which includes custom-made pieces for $20,000 or more. The Lane version is $2,000.