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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001397187-08-000024.txt : 20081223
<SEC-HEADER>0001397187-08-000024.hdr.sgml : 20081223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081223181205
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001397187-08-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wilson Dennis J.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001407029

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33608
		FILM NUMBER:		081268490

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		604.732.6124

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2285 CLARK DRIVE
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			A1
		ZIP:			V5N 3G9

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			lululemon athletica inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001397187
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	APPAREL & OTHER FINISHED PRODS OF FABRICS & SIMILAR MATERIAL [2300]
		IRS NUMBER:				203842867
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0208

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2285 CLARK DRIVE
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			A1
		ZIP:			V5N 3G9
		BUSINESS PHONE:		604-732-6124

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2285 CLARK DRIVE
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			A1
		ZIP:			V5N 3G9

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Lululemon Corp.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20070420
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001397187</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>lululemon athletica inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LULU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407029</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wilson Dennis J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2285 CLARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VANCOUVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>V5N 3G9</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; Chief Prod Designer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>212454</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5278774</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LIPO Investments (USA) Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>114345</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.79</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5164429</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LIPO Investments (USA) Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents a transfer of common stock indirectly held by Mr. Wilson through LIPO Investments (USA) Inc. pursuant to certain contractual obligations of LIPO Investments (USA) Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price in Column 4 is a weighted-average price.  The prices actually received ranged from $7.55 to $8.10.  For all transactions reported in this Form 4 utilizing a weighted-average price, the reporting person will provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the SEC staff, upon request, information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dennis J. Wilson by David Negus, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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