<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000844161</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHEROKEE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHKE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001094988</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAVICH JESS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHEROKEE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5990 SEPULVEDA BLVD SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHERMAN OAKS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91411</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>195556</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-12-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-12-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>195556</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>195556</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The warrants were issued as consideration for the reporting person's agreement to purchase junior participation interests in the issuer's outstanding credit facility.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities were issued to the Ravich Revocable Trust of 1989. The reporting person serves as the sole trustee of such trust and may be deemed to have sole beneficial ownership over the securities held of record by such trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Henry Stupp under POA for Jess Ravich</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-01-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
