H&M and Girl Up champion gender equality this International Women's Day

H&M USA is marking International Women's Day this year by teaming up with the United Nations Girl Up initiative.

The fast fashion retailer has announced plans to donate $200,000 to support Girl Up's leadership development programs for girls, in honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month. The company is also offering shoppers the chance to donate to the cause, via a national register drive that kicks off on March 8.

A video series featuring women at H&M speaking about the themes of leadership, mentorship, hope and the future is also in the pipeline to mark Women's History Month, with male employees joining in to discuss the topic of gender equality. Employees will wear a specific color of support every Friday of the month to symbolize the ongoing need for progress when it comes to gender equality, in a move the brand has dubbed 'Spirit Days'.

H&M is not the first major brand to support Girl Up, which was first rolled out in 2010 and aims to boost opportunities for girls around the world via various initiatives. Beauty label Bioré Skincare and Kate Hudson's Fabletics brand have both championed the program in the past.

The Swedish fashion giant is developing a habit of throwing its weight behind social causes; last November saw the brand mark Giving Tuesday with an H&M Foundation donation to the CHF, which focuses on delivering high-quality health care to some of America's most disadvantaged children. Meanwhile, the group's label Monki has been busy raising awareness of topics ranging from mental health to LGBTQ rights.