ABSTRACT Wearable antennas are essential for the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) applications in the fields of smart textiles, e‐healthcare, and wireless body area networks (WBANs). This study presents the design, fabrication, and performance analysis of a microstrip patch antenna with an overall physical size of 42 × 40 mm 2 (≈0.34 λ 0 × 0.32 λ 0 at 2.4 GHz) utilizing four flexible substrates: leather, cotton, denim, and Dyneema, with a focus on 2.4‐GHz ISM band applications. The methodology involves both simulation and experimentation using CST Studio Suite to evaluate parameters such as reflection coefficient, operational bandwidth, gain, and radiation efficiency. Among the investigated substrates, the leather‐based antenna exhibits the best overall performance, achieving a measured operational bandwidth of 2.26–2.63 GHz (370 MHz) with a minimum reflection coefficient of −36 dB at 2.41 GHz, along with a simulated radiation efficiency of 90% and a simulated gain of 2 dBi. Parametric optimization of leather further enhanced its characteristics. Furthermore, low detuning and reliable impedance matching are observed during bending analysis performed both in free space (off‐body) and on‐body (including the author's arm, leg, and chest), demonstrating the robustness of the design for real‐world applications. Specific absorption rate (SAR) analysis with values (1 g avg: 0.393 W/kg on the arm; 10 g avg: 0.0619 W/kg on the chest) confirms compliance with IEEE and ICNIRP safety standards. The link budget analysis (LBA) for data rates (0.5, 1, and 10 Mbps) confirms the reliable connectivity for short‐range wearable smart applications. As compared with state‐of‐the‐art designs, the leather substrate antenna exhibits enhanced flexibility, efficiency, and durability, making it an ideal candidate for deploying high‐performance, safety‐compliant wearable systems.
Hassan et al. (2026) studied this question.