<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001016607</issuerCik><issuerName>WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLSN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001054217</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROGERS DAVID L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>7401 BOONE AVENUE NORTH</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BROOKLYN PARK</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>55428</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-16</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value>E</value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1361662.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/David L. Rogers</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

