What brings somebody to the Warhammer table? Or sets them on the path to sumo? What are the circumstances that find someone obsessively collecting Moominware, watching motorsports or making horsehair wigs?

This week’s issue is the product of an accident, when we found ourselves faced by a buffet of quirky stories and specialisms we found intriguing and mysterious. Part of the HTSI mantra is that we represent the tastes of many – and we are fascinated by tribes. And so we made a virtue of it. We all seek kinship with others, and often find it outside our direct family. “It takes a moment to find your people,” says artist Imran Perretta of his friendship with the singer Joy Crookes, a fellow British-Bangladeshi. It’s become our coverline.

Warhammer, the game where miniature soldiers do battle, has inspired a devoted army that has transformed Games Workshop, the company behind it, into a £5.25bn brand. A deal with Amazon Studios will propel its popularity further, but even a forthcoming major studio production starring Henry Cavill should not dampen its essential nerd appeal. Chris Allnutt meets the enthusiasts who launch their Mancrusher Gargants and Spiterider Lancers on tabletops across the world. 

Getting access to the world of sumo is a long process that requires a federation sign-off and a strict adherence to the sport’s traditional codes. HTSI’s Tokyo-based contributing editor Kanae Hasegawa was granted an audience with Takeo Masuyama, a sumo hairstylist for 43 years, to watch the creation of the topknot, or mage. The hairstyle is a work of genius that involves extraordinary dexterity – and lots of string. It makes for a fascinating insight into an exclusive society where the professionals are much admired but rarely interviewed.

Ede & Ravenscroft, this week’s Cult Shop, has been weaving legal wigs since 1689. It makes the ne plus ultra of full-bottomed wigs, and has made royal robes for 13 British coronations, most recently for His Majesty King Charles III. This summer, however, a ruling that allowed barristers to dispense with wearing a wig in court on religious grounds was extended to cover race, sex and disability. Does this mark the beginning of the end for the wigmakers, or does the ceremony of going to get one’s first hairpiece fitted still retain a rare allure? The symbolism of donning horsehair might trump the bother of an itchy scalp; it will be curious to see how deep the professional tribalism runs.

Bella Freud’s podcast Fashion Neurosis has become a viral hit. Over the course of more than 50 episodes she’s had everyone from Nick Cave to Kate Moss and Rosalía on her couch. Each guest is asked the same questions about how they feel about the things they wear, and what could be a superficial subject often gives way to fascinating insights about body image, confidence and shame. I asked Bella if she would examine how the podcast had changed the way she herself thinks about her clothes. Her personal essay is one with which I deeply identify – she’s of a sartorial tribe I truly recognise. 

On 2 December, HTSI Editor Jo Ellison will host an intimate fireside chat at The Apartment, Bicester Village, with Kristina Blahnik (CEO, Manolo Blahnik) and Scott Malkin (founder, Value Retail) exploring the art of modern retail. Guests will enjoy complimentary travel in a private first-class carriage from London Marylebone, fine dining at The Apartment and an opportunity to explore the Village’s boutiques. Apply for a VIP pass here.