At the center of a well-manicured estate, within the walls of an impressive mansion, exists a world of tawdry affairs and debauchery—only far more refined.

The Crimson Bordello, which is expected to hold its grand opening at the end of this summer, is more than just another Second Life venue. For owner and Madamme Rubi Emberz, the project is also a test of what stakeholdership and community can look like for SL sex workers.

“During the conception of Crimson Bordello, and throughout the entire development and building process, I wanted to apply detailed elegance for our patrons and the lovely group of ladies that will give a sense of community to the world of sex work,” Emberz said.

That sense of community is central to the Bordello’s identity. When discussing the development of the decadent venue, Emberz pointed to a formative moment in the history of sex workers.

“There was a strip club in San Francisco—The Lusty Lady,” Emberz said. “It was the first strip club in the country to unionize. And later it was the first and only one to buy out management and turn itself into a worker-owned cooperative.”

As the grand opening approaches, Emberz acknowledges that building something lasting in Second Life will not be easy. Still, she believes the Bordello’s mission can foster a stronger sense of community and potentially create growth opportunities for SL’s hired pixel companions.

The idea for Crimson Bordello was born from personal experience. Now a seasoned SL sex worker, Emberz said she became disillusioned with investing her heart into projects that disappeared almost as quickly as they opened.

Out of that frustration came inspiration.

With her detail-oriented mindset, Emberz continues preparing every excruciating element of elegance for Crimson Bordello as its opening draws nearer. For more information on employment, please contact Rubi Emberz (rubyemberz).