The way my small, smooth brain views this is,
If you are the designer and your designs are done to your specifications, you are OEM. It doesn't matter how you get your product into the hands of the end user. Either via DSG, CC, DTG, Golfworks, or your own site (DTC).
DTC, is just cutting out the middleman, and keeping all the profit for yourself while supplying the end user with a quality product at the best possible price point. You are not having to share profit with some big box store that has to have X quantity on hand to sell them, and a high MSRP.
At least that is how I see it...
I may be wrong, if so, please enlightening me. My small smooth brain, needs to grow.