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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-07-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001400318</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEADLANDS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND, LP (THE PARTNERSHIP)</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE FERRY BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 255</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001562452</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Headlands Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE FERRY BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 255</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>General Partner of 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001562508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Park David E III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE FERRY BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 255</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Member of General Partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001562507</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cost David W Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE FERRY BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 255</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Member of General Partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.3819</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1088188</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed on behalf of Headlands Strategic Opportunities Fund, LP (the &quot;Fund&quot;), Headlands Capital Management, LLC (the &quot;GP&quot;), David E. Park III and David W. Cost Jr.  The GP is the general partner of the Fund.  Messrs. Park and Cost are the sole members of the investment committee of the GP.  The investment committee of the GP has collective investment discretion over such shares held by the Fund.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As the general partner of the Fund, the GP may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner of such shares under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;). As the members of the investment committee of the GP, Messrs. Park and Cost may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owners of such shares under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act.  However, pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) promulgated under the Exchange Act, each of the GP, Mr. Park and Mr. Cost disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Securities are directly owned by the Fund. The GP, Mr. Park and Mr. Cost may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of these shares. See Footnotes 1 and 2.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ DAVID W. COST JR.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
