-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001397187-08-000011.txt : 20080618
<SEC-HEADER>0001397187-08-000011.hdr.sgml : 20080618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080618172700
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001397187-08-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080618
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080618

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Waterson Sheree
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001438042

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33608
		FILM NUMBER:		08906393

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		604-732-6124

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LULULEMON ATHLETICA
		STREET 2:		2285 CLARKE DRIVE
		CITY:			VANCOUVER A1
		STATE:			A1
		ZIP:			V5N 3G9
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001438042</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Waterson Sheree</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LULULEMON ATHLETICA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2285 CLARKE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VANCOUVER A1</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>V5N 3G9</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options shall vest as to 25% per year on each of June 16, 2009, June 16, 2010, June 16, 2011 and June 16, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sheree Waterson, by David Negus, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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