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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-10-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034196</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORP/MA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
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            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001616639</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent Puma Acquisition Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
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            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001616626</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent International GPE VII, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
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            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
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        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001616580</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GPE VII GP Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001616558</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GPE VII GP (Delaware) Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001556190</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent Partners GPE VII Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001561808</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent Partners GPE VII Cayman Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001559259</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent Partners GPE VII-A Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001559260</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent Partners GPE VII-A Cayman Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001563878</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Advent Partners GPE VII-B Cayman Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>595276</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20105279</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>595276</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20105279</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Advent Puma Acquisition Limited (&quot;APAL&quot;) transferred an aggregate of 595,276 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer directly owned by APAL to the following entities in exchange for such entity's entire ownership interest in APAL, and after giving effect to such exchange, such entity (a &quot;Specified Advent Fund&quot;) directly owns shares of the Common Stock of the Issuer as follows:  Advent Partners GPE VII Limited Partnership (8,947 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII Cayman Limited Partnership (194,921 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII-A Limited Partnership (21,412 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII-A Cayman Limited Partnership (51,550 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII-B Cayman Limited Partnership (212,613 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII 2014 Limited Partnership (12,304 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII 2014 Cayman Limited Partnership (34,983 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII-A 2014 Limited Partnership (33,877 shares); Advent Partners GPE VII-A 2014 Cayman Limited Partnership (24,669 shares).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Following the exchange reported in Note 1 above, the owners of APAL were the Advent Funds (as defined below) other than than the Specified Advent Funds, and APAL directly owned 19,510,003 shares of common stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">APAL, together with Advent International Corporation (&quot;AIC&quot;) and the Advent Funds are referred to herein as the &quot;Reporting Persons.&quot;  The shares directly owned by APAL or by any Specified Advent Fund may be deemed indirectly owned by other Reporting Persons; however, each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of its respective pecuniary interest therein, if any, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">GPEVII GP (Del) is the General Partner of the following entities (together, the &quot;Advent Del Funds&quot;): Advent International GPE VII Limited Partnership; Advent International GPE VII-B Limited Partnership; Advent International GPE VII-C Limited Partnership; Advent International GPE VII-D Limited Partnership; Advent International GPE VII-F Limited Partnership; and Advent International GPE VII-G Limited Partnership.  GPEVII GP is the General Partner of the following entities (the &quot;GPE VII GP Funds&quot; and together with the Advent VII Funds and the Advent Del Funds, the &quot;Advent Funds&quot;): Advent International GPE VII-A Limited Partnership; Advent International GPE VII-E Limited Partnership; and Advent International GPE VII-H Limited Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">AIC is the Manager of Advent International GPE VII, LLC (&quot;AIGPE VII LLC&quot;) which in turn is the General Partner of the following entities (together with AIGPE VII LLC, the &quot;Advent VII Funds&quot;):  Advent Partners GPE VII Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII Cayman Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII-A Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII-A Cayman Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII-B Cayman Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII 2014 Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII 2014 Cayman Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII-A 2014 Limited Partnership; Advent Partners GPE VII-A 2014 Cayman Limited Partnership; GPE VII GP (Delaware) Limited Partnership (&quot;GPEVII GP (Del)&quot;); and GPE VII GP Limited Partnership (&quot;GPEVII GP&quot;).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This Form 4 is the first of three Form 4s being filed relating to the same event. The Form 4 has been split into three filings because there are more than 20 Reporting Persons in total, and the SEC's EDGAR filing system limits a single Form 4 to a maximum of 10. Each Form 4 will be filed by Designated Filer, Advent International Corporation.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>See Exhibit 99.1</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-10-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
